Two passengers including child, 7, fall critically ill on cruise ship heading to New Jersey

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Two passengers, including a seven-year-old child, were evacuated from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship bound for New Jersey for emergency medical treatment in the Bahamas Friday.

The first medical emergency prompted the Oasis of the Seas’ to return toward Nassau because it was the closest location where the passenger could receive hospital treatment, according to a captain’s announcement reported by Cruise Hive. While the ship was heading back, a second passenger was also reported to be critically ill.

Both passengers were taken off the ship in Nassau on Friday for further medical treatment. Their conditions and the nature of their illnesses have not been disclosed, and it is unclear whether the emergencies were related.

The disruption also delayed the Oasis of the Seas’ next departure and forced Royal Caribbean to cancel a scheduled stop in Florida.

The ship is now expected to arrive at its home port at Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, around 2 p.m. Sunday, instead of its originally scheduled 6 a.m. arrival, according to Cruise Hive.

A letter reportedly delivered to guests onboard and posted to Facebook explained the reason for the delay.

“As previously announced by our Captain, our medical staff determined that two of our guests needed urgent medical attention. We successfully debarked our guests so they could receive additional medical care,” the letter read.

“As a result, we’ll now be delayed in our return to Cape Liberty. We plan on arriving at approximately 2:00 pm, with debarkation starting around 2:30 pm. We appreciate your patience and understanding, knowing we’d do the same for you or a loved one in a similar situation.”

The delay is expected to create problems for passengers who have flights or other travel arrangements scheduled for Sunday.

Passengers who booked flights through Royal Caribbean’s Flights by Royal program will have their flights automatically adjusted to account for the later arrival, according to Cruise Hive. Those who booked flights independently will need to contact their airlines themselves.

Royal Caribbean said it will reimburse airline change fees of up to $200 per person for domestic flights and up to $400 for international flights, provided passengers submit the required receipts and documentation, according to the outlet.

The cruise line is also giving each stateroom 60 minutes of complimentary internet access to help passengers contact airlines, hotels, friends or family members, the outlet reports.

The disruption will carry over to the ship’s next seven-night Bahamas sailing, which is scheduled to depart from Cape Liberty on Sunday.

The Independent has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.