Bahamas Celebration in drydock after striking object, no injuries

Passengers were instructed to don life jackets and emergency steps were initiated. The ship returned to port, reportedly under tow, and everyone was safely evacuated, according to a Celebration Cruise Line statement.

Bahamas Celebration hit the object at approximately 9 p.m. Friday after departing Grand Bahama Island for the Port of Palm Beach, Fla.

Passengers were housed overnight at resorts on Grand Bahama Island pending their return to Florida. According to the Sun-Sentinel, Bimini SuperFast picked up the 960 passengers and took them to PortMiami Saturday night.

Bahamas Celebration is remaining in Freeport for drydock repairs. The cruises on Saturday and Monday were immediately canceled, then on Saturday the company's website said there will be no sailings the first two weeks of November, initially without further explanation but now the site notes the ship is in drydock.

The company said booked passengers are being notified and a refund or other arrangements will be made.

Bahamas Celebration sails from Palm Beach to Freeport every other day of the week.

The 36,000gt ship was built in 1981 and previously sailed as Prinsesse Ragnhild for Color Line before undergoing a major conversion in 2009 to begin Bahamas cruises from Florida.