I guess the two dead people show that the wave did make it.
The only cruise I was ever on, our cabin was on the 14th floor, at least 100 ft above the water line. As I understand it, the 26 ft wave smashed cabin windows on the lower levels.
They show the wave made it in, but don't provide any information on the accuracy of the estimated wave height of 26 feet. All decks on a decent-sized cruise ship are much higher than that from the water line.