Madrid , Spain ( CNN ) -- Two passengers aboard a cruise ship were killed when 26-foot waves crashed into the vessel Wednesday off northeast Spain , officials said . Fourteen others were injured . The Greece-based Louis Cruise Lines ship was in the Mediterranean north of Barcelona when it was hit by three `` abnormal '' waves , each about 26 feet ( 9 meters ) high , cruise line spokesman Michael Maratheftis said . As a result , five windows in public areas -- on the forward part , or bow , of the 14-deck ship -- were smashed , and two male passengers -- a German and an Italian -- were killed , he said . Fourteen others were treated aboard the ship for light injuries but were hospitalized as a precaution when the ship returned to Barcelona on Wednesday night , Maratheftis said . Spain 's state news agency reported that two of the passengers had serious injuries , including a 62-year-old woman with fractures in both legs . Maratheftis would not provide specifics , but said there were no life-threatening injuries to the 14 wounded passengers . The vessel , the Louis Majesty , was sailing under a Maltese flag and traveling from Barcelona , Spain , to Genoa , Italy , the Greek Public Ministry of the Mercantile Marine said . The incident occurred 24 miles off the coast of Cabo de San Sebastian near the Spanish town of Palafrugell , Maratheftis said . The ship had 1,350 passengers and 580 crew members , the Greek ministry said . The passengers , including three Americans , were from 27 nations , Maratheftis said in phone interviews from Cyprus . Buoy data off the French coast indicated that weather was the likely cause of the high waves . Winds were at 45 mph at that buoy . All of the passengers were to be flown home on Thursday from Barcelona at the expense of Louis Cruise Lines , Maratheftis said . `` The next cruise has been canceled , '' and the Louis Majesty will remain in Barcelona for repairs , Maratheftis said . The vessel is due to resume cruises on March 14 , he said . CNN 's Al Goodman , Stephanie Halasz , Ben Brumfield and Chad Myers contributed to this report .
26-foot waves hit ship with 1,350 passengers aboard . German , Italian passengers killed when waves smashed windows . Fourteen other people injured . Vessel , the Louis Majesty , returns to port in Barcelona , Spain .