Cruise passenger struck by champagne cork

The ship had just left for a four-night cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. Photo / iStock

A megaliner faced delays after a passenger was injured during a extravagant on-board celebration, just as the vessel left port.

Independence of the Seas had just left Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when a 33-year-old American woman popped open a bottle of Champagne and was hit in the eye by its flying cork.

Medical staff attempted to treat the woman on board, but it was determined she needed a treatment from an eye specialist.

A rescue team on a boat met the vessel just east of Miami Beach and the woman was transported to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute's emergency room in Miami.

The Royal Caribbean International vessel was en route to the island of Cozumel, on a four-night tour of the Western Caribbean.

A spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean told the Sun Sentinel that the woman's right eye was hit by the cork from a Champagne bottle she had brought on board.

"The guest was initially treated in our medical facility, but required additional and urgent medical attention that could only be provided in a hospital," she said.

"We wish our guest a speedy recovery."

Unfortunately, the woman did not rejoin the cruise.

- nzherald.co.nz