Royal Caribbean International has evacuated 1,500 employees from Miami on-board the Enchantment of the Seas vessel.

A planned sailing of the ship to the Caribbean has been cancelled, with the company instead deciding to move employees to a place of safety ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma.

The Miami-based cruise line evacuated 1,500 employees moved the people from its PortMiami buildings earlier.

Royal Caribbean cancelled the regular sailing, scheduled to depart on for Friday, and offered space to employees and family at no cost.

Spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said Royal Caribbean “felt that was the right thing to do.”

Guests from Enchantment’s previous sailings who wished to stay aboard because they could not leave Florida were also allowed to do so.

No one will be charged for staterooms, food, entertainment or gratuities.

Enchantment will return to Miami once the port reopens.

Norwegian Cruise Line had earlier been criticised by Florida senator Marco Rubio for arriving in Miami a day early and dropping off thousands of tourists.

Many were subsequently trapped after failing to get home due to mass flight cancellations.

The cruise line was later able to accommodate most passengers into another of its ships, also sailing away from the storm, or into area hotels.