By Craig McCarthy From NJ Advance Media

The first lawsuit has been filed against Royal Caribbean over its New Jersey-based cruise ship that plotted into the path a powerful storm system earlier this month, according to reports. 

One of the passengers, Bruce Simpson, says in the class-action lawsuit that when the 1,150-foot vessel rocked violently in 30-foot waves, he was tossed into his cabin door and knocked unconscious, according to CNN. 

A time-lapsed video taken by a Efferent Media, a digital marketing firm based in Long Island, captured the Royal Caribbean ship as it headed into a powerful winter storm.

Simpson claims that once he came to, he was instructed by the crew to stay in his room until the ship made it through the storm before seeking medical attention, the report says. 

Four people were hurt, although none of the injuries were considered serious.

On Sunday, Feb. 7, passengers were confined to their rooms during after the extreme wind and sea conditions forced the cruise ship to turnaround. The storm caused significant damage to the ship’s propulsion system. A number of passengers documented the experience on the luxury liner on social media.

The suit, which was filed in a Miami federal court last week, alleges that Royal Caribean was negligent in its decision to plot a course through the storm off the coast of the Carolinas with 6,000 passengers and crew on board, according to CBS New York. 

Royal Caribbean has said the storm was an unexpectedly strong storm.

Weather experts have also criticized the cruise line for heading into the winter storm system, claiming the storm was well-forecasted by a number of agencies and outlets. 

Royal Caribbean officials say they have not seen the lawsuit and were reviewing its processes for possible future improvements, according to CBS. 

The incident is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Coast Guard, the report says. 

The ship has since been deemed seaworthy after its repairs and set sail the following weekend out of Bayonne. 

For more on this story and video go to:  http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/02/royal_caribbean_sued_over_cruise_that_ran_into_monster_ocean_storm.html

See also iNews Cayman stories;

Published February 23 2016 “Crisis of the Week: Royal Caribbean’s Stormy Cruise” at:  http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/crisis-of-the-week-royal-caribbeans-stormy-cruise/

Published February 10 2016 “Giant Royal Caribbean ship damaged in ‘extreme’ storm will return to port” at:  http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/giant-royal-caribbean-ship-damaged-in-extreme-storm-will-return-to-port/