Tender boat operations on Holland America Line’s ms Noordam ran into trouble at Kiriwina Island, Papua New Guinea, after a sudden 40-knot squall made conditions unsafe for guests, Facebook page Paul and Carole Love To Travel reported.

The couple said the localized storm arrived quickly, disrupting the tendering process and creating what they described as a major challenge for the guests. With winds strong enough to send deck chairs sliding across the open deck, guests rushed indoors as the weather deteriorated.

As conditions worsened, the captain suspended tender operations because tenders could no longer safely come alongside the ship. The post said around 700 passengers who had already gone ashore were temporarily left on the island while the crew waited for the wind to drop enough to resume the transfer process.

The captain kept guests updated, explaining that the ship was being pushed toward nearby reefs by the strong winds and needed to stop tendering in order to maneuver the vessel to a safer position. Once winds eased, crew members restarted the shuttle and brought everyone back onboard without reported injuries.

Noordam is currently sailing a 42-day, one-way voyage from Sydney to Auckland. After the canceled day at Kiriwina Island, the ship continued with a sea day and is scheduled to call next at Honiara, Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, according to the passengers’ post.