A Carnival cruise ship was battered by a storm off the coast of South Carolina, causing shattered glass, water pouring into rooms and hallways, and a lack of communication from cruise staff. Some passengers and crew members needed minor medical assistance. The ship arrived in Charleston behind schedule and some crew cabins needed to be temporarily taken out of service due to water damage. The ship’s next voyage was also delayed. The National Hurricane Center warned of a non-tropical area of low pressure off Florida that was set to move northward and inland over the Carolinas during the weekend, causing gusty winds, dangerous surf, and rip current conditions.
Passengers aboard the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship experienced a terrifying ordeal as a storm off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina battered the ship for hours on Friday night. The storm caused shattered glass, water pouring into rooms and hallways, and the ship pitching about. Some passengers and crew members needed “minor assistance” from medical staff, In line with a Carnival cruise spokesman. Despite the harrowing experience, the spokesman assured that all guests on board were safe.
The Carnival Sunshine was headed from the Bahamas to South Carolina when it encountered the storm. The ship arrived in Charleston behind schedule, and some crew cabins had to be temporarily taken out of service due to water damage. The ship’s next voyage was also delayed.
The National Hurricane Center had warned of a non-tropical area of low pressure off Florida that was set to move northward and inland over the Carolinas during the weekend. Forecasters had predicted gusty winds, dangerous surf, and rip current conditions along portions of the southeastern coast of the United States through Sunday.
Passenger Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University, tweeted about the experience on board the ship as it encountered the storm. She said that the only time passengers heard from the captain was in the afternoon, when he told them he had an experienced crew and would do everything he could to minimize discomfort as the ship encountered the storm. Tutrone tweeted again on Saturday afternoon, describing “14 hours of high winds, rain and massive waves”. She also mentioned that the ship was surrounded by lightning and took a huge hit by a wave that sounded like it split in two.
Several passengers, including Brenda Goodwin Sherbert, posted on social media about broken glass on the ship and water coming in through balcony doors. Sherbert wrote about a 40-foot wave hitting their side of the ship, causing things to crash all around them and the carpet on her side of the bed to be soaked because water had come in.
The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship eventually docked safely in Charleston, but the experience left passengers shaken.
It is important to note that while cruise ships are designed to withstand storms, they are not immune to the effects of severe weather. Cruise lines take precautions to avoid storms, but sometimes they are unavoidable. It is important for passengers to remain calm and follow the instructions of the crew during these situations.
To put a stop to, the incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Mother Nature and the importance of being prepared for any situation. While it may be impossible to completely avoid storms and other natural disasters, taking the necessary precautions and remaining calm can help to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved.
