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Breaking news, video shows carnival cruise ship in disarray after ‘horrific’ south carolina storm.

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Terrified passengers on a Carnival cruise were left vomiting after a torrential storm pounded the ship in South Carolina — flooding the vessel and ripping doors off their hinges.

The Carnival Sunshine was returning to Charleston following a week-long trip in the Bahamas when it got caught in wild weather and rough seas over the Memorial Day weekend.

Videos shared online by vacationers show flooded hallways littered with glass and other debris, doors ripped off their hinges and downed pipes laying soaked on the floor.

The ship’s crew members were forced to evacuate their flooded quarters, according to a video shared on Twitter that shows the area in disarray.

Throughout the storm, several passengers also complained they were starting to feel sick due to the boat’s rough movements.

One traveler described being able to “smell people being sick walking down the halls,” the Daily Mail Reported .

Cruise-goer RJ Whited, who was celebrating his engagement to fiancé Tracy on the Carnival Sunshine, told WCIV that the ship was shaking “so violently.”

Passengers also complained that they didn’t hear from the ship’s captain or any crew members for hours during the chaos.

“They left us blind,” passenger Daniel Taylor told the outlet. “Not reassuring us about what was going on, where we were headed to, what the plan was. They could have updated us and let us know something.”

Another passenger, Christa Seifert-Alicea, said they didn’t receive word from the captain or crew for more than 12 hours.

“What we endured is indescribable, not only to feel it yourself but to hear and see it set in on every single person around you from adult, child and the elderly is something I will never forget,” Seifer-Alicea said.

Water damage and broken glass were left in the hallways and rooms following the storm.

A Carnival spokesperson said only a “small number” of passengers and crew members required “minor assistance.”

“Carnival Sunshine’s return to Charleston was impacted by the weather and rough seas on Saturday. Guests on board the ship were safe. Our medical staff helped a small number of guests and crew members who needed minor assistance,” the cruise liner said in a statement to WCIV.

“The weather’s prolonged impact on the Charleston area delayed the ship’s arrival on Sunday and as a result, the next voyage’s embarkation was also delayed. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all our guests.”

The spokesperson added that the Carnival Sunshine is now sailing on a five-day Bahamas cruise and will return to Charleston on Thursday.

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Carnival cruise ship battered by waves in storm off Charleston

By Aliza Chasan

Updated on: May 29, 2023 / 4:16 PM EDT / CBS News

A storm off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, battered a Carnival cruise ship for hours late Friday night before it docked, leaving passengers terrified.

Passengers aboard the Carnival Sunshine described shattered glass, water pouring into rooms and hallways, the ship pitching about and a lack of communication from cruise staff. Some passengers and crew members needed "minor assistance" from medical staff, a Carnival cruise spokesman told CBS News. "Guests on board the ship were safe," the spokesman added. 

Carnival Sunshine, which was headed from the Bahamas to South Carolina, arrived in Charleston behind schedule, according to the spokesman. Some crew cabins needed to be temporarily taken out of service because of water damage. The ship's next voyage, on which it has since embarked, was also delayed.

The National Hurricane Center on Friday 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 said there would be gusty winds, dangerous surf and rip current conditions along portions of the U.S.'s southeastern coast through Sunday.

Passenger Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University, tweeted Friday that the ship was rocking. 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. 

"They said it will get worse as we get closer to the storm," she tweeted. "@CarnivalCruise  is doing an EXCELLENT job!"

She tweeted again on Saturday afternoon, describing " 14 hours of high winds, rain and massive waves ." 

"We were surrounded by lightning and the ship took a huge hit by a wave and sounded like it split in two," Tutrone tweeted.

Several passengers, including Brenda Goodwin Sherbert, posted on social media about broken glass on the ship . They also wrote about water coming in through balcony doors.

"We had a 40 foot wave hit our side of the ship,.. we almost fell out the bed.. things were crashing all around us and the carpet on my side of the bed was soaked bc water came in thru our balcony door," Goodwin Sherbert wrote.

Passenger Reid Overcash, who was on the cruise with his wife, said televisions on the ship displayed a message during the storm: "Public address announcement please standby." 

He said it was when winds had reached between 70-90 mph and the ship was tilting left that he truly feared for his life.

"Myself being in emergency services and retired, I knew nobody was going to come and rescue us with winds over 40 knots," Overcash said.

The trip marked Overcash's seventh cruise. He said he's not going to let the frightening experience stop him from going on more cruises in the future. 

"It's just one of them unlucky experiences that occurs once in a while," he said.

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Aliza Chasan is a Digital Content Producer for "60 Minutes" and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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Carnival cruise quickly turns into nightmare as ship rocked by raging storm

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It was a terrifying scene aboard a cruise ship late last week, when a huge storm rocked a Carnival Cruise Line vessel, delaying the ship’s return to port and leaving passengers frightened for their lives.

The boat, Carnival Sunshine, was returning to Charleston, S.C., on Friday, May 26, when it encountered a storm.

Torrential rains caused the boat’s hallways to flood with water and the boat’s furniture was flung around inside the ship by the rough conditions of the sea.

The cruise ship was returning after a six-day cruise of the Bahamas and Carnival confirmed the storm delayed the boat’s return to port and it arrived about nine hours behind schedule.

“Carnival Sunshine’s return to Charleston was impacted by the weather and rough seas on Saturday,” Carnival said in a statement. ”The weather’s prolonged impact on the Charleston area delayed the ship’s arrival on Sunday and as a result, the next voyage’s embarkation was also delayed.”

Video and photos taken by passengers show water sluicing through hallways, retail display areas strewn with debris that fell from shelves, broken glass, doors knocked from their frames and huge waves smashing against the side of the vessel.

“It was terrifying,” passenger William B. Blackburn told CNN of the nightmare experience, saying he and his family took shelter in their cabin and prayed.

“(We) discussed the fact that it would be very unlikely to survive in the water even with life-jackets and doubted that lifeboats could even be launched in those conditions,” he said.

Sharon Tutrone, a passenger and professor at Coastal Carolina University, shared on Twitter that the cruise ship “didn’t wait it out.”

“We sailed right into (the storm) and spent 11 hours pitching, diving, and rolling,” she said.

We didn’t wait it out. We sailed right into it and spent 11 hours pitching, diving, and rolling. We were surrounded by lightning and the ship took a huge hit by a wave and sounded like it split in two. — Sharon Tutrone (@SHARONTUTRONE) May 29, 2023

In a followup tweet, she added that the ordeal lasted for 14 hours and, at one point, “the ship took a hit from a wave that sounded like the ship split in two.”

https://twitter.com/SHARONTUTRONE/status/1662509847814742016

Another traveller, Daniel Taylor, told The Daily Mail he went to check out the onboard entertainment after the captain announced they would be charting through a storm.

“Stage lights mounted on the ceiling began to shake , the disco ball started swinging and the LED wall on the stage began rolling side by side on its own.”

In an additional statement to FOX Weather, Carnival said that “the weather and rough surf led to some crew cabins being temporarily taken out of service while we clean up water damage. All the public areas of the ship are open and in service and Carnival Sunshine is currently operating its next cruise, a five-day Bahamas sailing.”

As of this writing, there are no reports of any major injuries to passengers.

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Carnival passengers recount ‘nightmare’ cruise as storm floods ship

Videos showed the Carnival Sunshine cabins and hallways flooding and ceilings leaking

Matthew Branham and his fiancée, Madison Davis, were lying by a Carnival Sunshine pool on Friday aboard a cruise returning to Charleston, S.C., from the Bahamas when an announcement came over the loudspeaker. The captain was expecting rougher weather that evening, but there was nothing to worry about. So Branham and Davis didn’t worry.

As the day went on, “We noticed it started getting cooler in the afternoon — much, much cooler,” said Branham, 25, of Castlewood, Va. “And then it was like a switch was flipped, and it literally turned into a nightmare.”

En route back to Charleston Friday night into Saturday, the Carnival Sunshine navigated into a strong storm system that battered the southeast over the holiday weekend. Videos emerged on social media showing cabins and hallways flooding, shop floors littered with destroyed merchandise and leaking ceilings . Passenger Brad Morrell snapped a photo of an automated instrument map reporting a 69 knot, or 79 mph, wind.

#CarnivalSunshine : Due to return to Charleston, South Carolina this Saturday, May 27, 2023, has been delayed due to severe weather. The ship is currently off the South Carolina coast and holding position, unable to return to the port because of high winds & rough seas. #cruise 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/2B6HlAn2yD — ∼Marietta (@MariettaDaviz) May 28, 2023

Carnival said in a statement that the weather was unexpectedly strong, causing conditions that were rougher than forecast, but that its fleet operations center team, which relies on outside meteorology resources for itinerary planning, “coordinated to keep the ship in its safest location.”

“Attempting to sail out of the large front could have been dangerous,” the statement continued. “The ship proceeded to the port as soon as the weather began to clear.”

Strong Southeast storm slams Carolinas

Carnival said the captain made “several announcements about the weather and the delay it caused in returning to Charleston, asking guests to use extra precaution while walking around the ship.” Additionally, “some of the worst weather occurred in the overnight hours when announcements are not typically made, but guests and crew were safe.”

The ship’s medical staff did help a “small number” of guests and crew members who needed minor assistance following the storm. Despite the significant damage and a delay in schedule, Carnival Sunshine embarked on its next five-day Bahama sailing on Saturday.

From their sea-view room, Branham and Davis watched as waves surged over their window and braced themselves as the 892-foot-long ship lurched in the storm.

“Waves were hitting the boat so hard that it was like an earthquake experience, jarring you like a really rough roller coaster — even in the middle floor,” Branham said.

They were told to stay in their cabins. Meanwhile, Branham said, TVs were falling off walls, and glassware was sliding off shelves and shattering on the floor. “You could not stand up in your room,” he said. “You could be thrown from the bed.”

They packed up their belongings when their floor started to flood and took shelter in a main lobby area.

“All of the employees were sprinting downstairs with life vests,” Branham said. “There were little kids besides us screaming and crying and throwing fits.”

Throughout the storm, Branham wondered why there weren’t more announcements from Carnival staff. Besides the warning of rougher seas earlier Friday and one Saturday morning after they’d weathered the storm, Branham said they weren’t given any official updates on their situation. When he asked workers what was going on, they told him not to worry.

⁦⁦ @CarnivalCruise ⁩ #carnivalsunshine still 75mph winds at 9:25am. Sitting and spinning in the Atlantic. pic.twitter.com/NITCO2l9Ss — FlyersCaptain™®© (@flyerscaptain) May 29, 2023

“But you see rooms flooded, and you can pick up a handful of sand and you’re kind of like, ‘What in the world? Why is nobody telling us anything?’” Branham said.

Jim Walker, a maritime lawyer and cruise industry legal expert, says his firm has been contacted by some Carnival Sunshine passengers who were injured during the storm, including a man who says he was struck by a door and broke his foot. Others have asked him about the potential for a class-action lawsuit.

While Walker said passengers should make their complaints known to Carnival, he doesn’t believe filing a lawsuit would be an efficient next step. Instead, impacted passengers can ask Carnival for a refund or a credit for another cruise, although there’s no guarantee the cruise line will grant such requests.

Pete Peterson, owner of Storybook Cruises , which is affiliated with Cruise Planners, said cruise ships keep a close eye on weather developments and will adjust their itinerary depending on the severity of the storm.

“Cruise lines monitor the weather all the time. They’re not going to put their passengers in harm’s way,” said Peterson, who has been a cruise adviser for more than 20 years and has sailed on nearly 60 cruises. “Obviously, some cruise lines are better at doing this than others.”

In 2016, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas returned to port after cruising into a “bomb cyclone,” which damaged the ship amid winds gusting to 100 mph. The ship sailed into the remnants of Hurricane Hermine seven months later, causing additional problems.

To ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers, a cruise ship can alter its course and circumvent the rough weather system. In stormy conditions, the crew can deploy the stabilizers, which will prevent the ship from rolling and bucking.

“You don’t experience the up and down,” Peterson said. “It’s not as rough a ride.”

Both approaches can add to a cruise line’s expenditures, Peterson said. Stabilizers slow the vessel, thereby consuming more fuel. Sailing around the storm can take longer than the original route and disrupt the company’s cruise schedule, leading to delays or cancellations. The cruise line may have to reimburse passengers or provide them with future credits because of the inconvenience.

“When they do something like that, it’s going to cost them money,” Peterson said.

Craig Setzer , a meteorologist and hurricane preparedness specialist, said that even with the hurricane-like conditions and flooding, “I would never be in doubt of the vessel’s integrity,” he said. “Cruise ships are structurally very, very sound and can survive a lot. They’re really rugged.”

Matthew Cappucci contributed to this report.

More cruise news

Living at sea: Travelers on a 9-month world cruise are going viral on social media. For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years . That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version is waiting in the wings.

Passengers beware: It’s not all buffets and dance contests. Crime data reported by cruise lines show that the number of sex crimes has increased compared to previous years. And though man-overboard cases are rare, they are usually deadly .

The more you know: If you’re cruise-curious, here are six tips from a newcomer. Remember that in most cases, extra fees and add-ons will increase the seemingly cheap price of a sailing. And if you happen to get sick , know what to expect on board.

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Carnival cruise ship floods after its battered in storm off Charleston

A storm off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina left passengers terrified after it caused flooding on a Carnival cruise ship, CBS reports.

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Passengers aboard the Carnival Sunrise described water pouring into their rooms and hallways, shattered glass, the ship bouncing about and a lack of communication from cruise ship staff.

Some passengers and crew members needed “minor assistance” from medical staff, a Carnival cruise spokesman told CBS News.

“Guests on board the ship were safe,” the spokesman added.

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Carnival Sunshine, which was headed to Charleston from the Bahamas, arrived behind schedule, according to the spokesperson. The ship needed to suspend service in several of the crew cabins due to water damage, and the ship’s next voyage was also delayed. CBS News said it has since embarked.

The National Hurricane Center warned of a non-tropical area of low pressure off the Florida coast of Friday that was expected to head toward the Carolinas over the weekend. Meteorologists said that there would be gusty winds, dangerous surf and strong rip currents along portions of the U.S.’s southeastern coast through Sunday.

Read: Georgia man accused of putting victim in chokehold in pizza store parking lot

Cruise passenger Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University, tweeted Friday that the ship was rocking. She went on to say that the only time passengers heard from the captain was in the afternoon, when he told them the crew was experienced and would do everything they could to minimize discomfort.

“They said it will get worse as we get closer to the storm,” she tweeted. “@CarnivalCruise  is doing an EXCELLENT job!”

She tweeted again on Saturday afternoon, describing “14 hours of high winds, rain and massive waves.”

After 14 hours of high winds, rain and massive waves. The ship took a hit from a wave that sounded like the ship split in two. The @Carnival Sunshine is finally in Charleston. @Carnival maybe you should have a pilot onboard so we didn’t have to sit and drift for 6 hours waiting. — Sharon Tutrone (@SHARONTUTRONE) May 27, 2023

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Several other passengers, including Brenda Goodwin Sherbert, posted on social media about broken glass all over the ship and about water coming through their balcony doors.

Read: JSO: Carjacking suspect apprehended after short police chase in Hyde Park area

CBS News spoke with passenger Reid Overcash, who was on the cruise with his wife. He said that televisions on the ship displayed a message during the storm: “Public address announcement please standby.”

Overcash also told CBS News that when winds reached between 70 to 90 mph and the ship was tilting left, he truly feared for his life.

“Myself being in emergency services and retired, I knew nobody was going to come rescue us with winds over 40 knots,” he told CBS News.

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The trip was Overcash’s seventh cruise. He said he’s not going to let this experience stop him from going on future cruises.

“It’s just one of them unlucky experiences that occurs once in a while,” he told CBS News.

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Cruise ship passengers left terrified after ship sails through rough seas on return to Charleston

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A cruise ship that navigated rough seas off the South Carolina coast over the Memorial Day weekend has resumed sailing on its next cruise, Carnival Cruise Lines said Monday.

Terrified passengers on the Carnival Sunshine took to social media to post video of water pouring through a flooded hallway on a cabin level and pictures of on-board stores in shambles, with merchandise strewn about on the floor as large waves swelled on the sea.

Passenger Daniel Taylor said the crew “left us blind, not reassuring us what was going on, where we were heading to, what the plan was,” WCIV-TV reported .

“They could have updated us and let us know something,” he said.

The Carnival Sunshine’s return to Charleston, South Carolina, from the Bahamas on Saturday was delayed by prolonged bad weather and rough seas in the area, the Miami-based company said in a statement to The Associated Press on Monday. The vessel’s next cruise scheduled to leave Charleston this weekend was delayed, but is now sailing, the statement said.

No serious injuries were reported.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of all our guests,” Carnival said.

Cruise ship Carnival Sunshine pounded by large waves during coastal storm near Charleston, South Carolina

Video shared on social media shows dark clouds covering the sky and large whitecaps raging in the surrounding waters of the atlantic ocean. cruise ship passengers reported water damage and broken glass, as well as high waves that battered the vessel..

Passengers aboard the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine were left distressed as large waves churned up by a powerful storm off the Southeast coast pounded the vessel, delaying its return from the Bahamas over the Memorial Day weekend.  

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Passengers aboard the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine were left distressed as large waves churned up by a powerful storm off the Southeast coast pounded the vessel, delaying its return from the Bahamas over the Memorial Day weekend .

Video shared on social media Sunday by Brad Morrell , filmed outside his room onboard the cruise ship that was returning to Charleston, South Carolina , shows dark clouds covering the sky and large whitecaps raging in the surrounding waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Cruise ship passengers reported water damage and broken glass, as well as high waves that battered the vessel.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Video shared on social media Sunday by Brad Morrell, filmed outside his room onboard the cruise ship that was returning to Charleston, South Carolina, shows dark clouds covering the sky and large whitecaps raging in the surrounding waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

(Brad Morrell via Storyful / FOX Weather)

Carnival Cruise Line released a statement to FOX Weather on Monday morning to describe the incident, which was reported to occur Saturday:

"Carnival Sunshine’s return to Charleston was impacted by the weather and rough seas on Saturday. The weather’s prolonged impact on the Charleston area delayed the ship’s arrival on Sunday and as a result, the next voyage’s embarkation was also delayed. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all our guests.

"The weather and rough surf led to some crew cabins being temporarily taken out of service while we clean up water damage. All the public areas of the ship are open and in service and Carnival Sunshine is currently operating its next cruise, a five-day Bahamas sailing."

VACATION TURNS INTO NIGHTMARE FOR A SEATTLE MAN AFTER A ‘ROGUE WAVE’ PARALYZES HIM

The low-pressure system responsible for the harsh weather over the Memorial Day weekend was being monitored for tropical and subtropical development by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) last week, though it remained a non-tropical low throughout its duration.

Forecasters from the NHC had visited the Carnival Cruise Line headquarters in Miami two days before the ship got caught in the powerful storm.

The area of low pressure has now moved inland over North Carolina and will gradually weaken in the days ahead, but not before dampening more holiday beach plans in parts of the mid-Atlantic and generating dangerous rip currents along the East Coast.

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Nightly news, carnival cruise passengers outraged after terrifying ordeal through storm.

Passengers say most of the journey on the Carnival Sunshine was a breeze, but then the ship crossed paths with a major developing storm on its way back to South Carolina. NBC News’ Steve Patterson shares one traveler’s experience and the company’s response. May 29, 2023

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“Carnival Sunshine’s return to Charleston was impacted by the weather and rough seas on Saturday,” the cruise line said in an emailed statement Monday. “The weather’s prolonged impact on the Charleston area delayed the ship’s arrival and as a result, the next voyage’s embarkation was also delayed. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all our guests. Carnival Sunshine is now sailing on its next cruise.”

The high seas were associated with a non-tropical low mixed with a storm front that had been sitting on Florida all week that the National Hurricane Center had been keeping tabs on, noting a small chance it could form into a tropical or subtropical depression.

As the system moved up toward the Carolina coast, gale and high seas warnings were issued from Florida up to Virginia, and Carnival Sunshine endured some of those effects as it waited to get into port. Weather reports showed winds in the area of up to 75 mph.

The aftermath aboard Carnival Sunshine after a severe storm. The crew from Deck 0-4 evacuated to the theater, and anywhere they could rest… the crew bar destroyed. pic.twitter.com/MqsDJYvrSG — Crew Center (@CrewCenter) May 28, 2023

Videos on social media showed some of the damage. One post from the Twitter account @CrewCenter, associated with website Crew-Center.com, which is run by former ship crew, showed “the aftermath aboard Carnival Sunshine after a severe storm. The crew from Deck 0-4 evacuated to the theater, and anywhere they could rest… the crew bar destroyed.”

The website report stated there were no injuries, but passenger space on Deck 2 also experienced flooded hallways and staterooms.

@CarnivalCruise #carnivalsunshine . This was on Deck 12 at 11:38pm. We were in the piano bar right before when 30+ bottles of liquor jumped off of the bar and broke. We were told to leave the piano bar as there was liquor running across the floor. pic.twitter.com/2t1OLwY4go — FlyersCaptain™®© (@flyerscaptain) May 29, 2023

Passengers in public spaces reported bottles flying off shelves as the waves of more than 12 feet rocked the ship.

A Twitter post from @FlyersCaptain said “We were in the piano bar right before when 30+ bottles of liquor jumped off of the bar and broke. We were told to leave the piano bar as there was liquor running across the floor.”

After a major makeover, the cruise line renamed what was the Carnival Destiny to Carnival Sunshine in 2013. It has a passenger capacity of 3,002 based on double occupancy.

The ship sails year-round on a variety of itineraries from Charleston.

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40-foot waves batter cruise ship, shattering glass, causing flooding, terrifying passengers: ‘Things were crashing all around us’

• Published: May. 30, 2023, 11:11 a.m.

A storm with 40-foot waves battered the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship on Friday, delaying its arrival in Charleston, South Carolina. Terrified passengers described glass shattering and water pouring into the ship. Here the ship is seen docked in Charleston in 2020 (AP Photo/Mic Smith, File) AP

• Robert Higgs, cleveland.com

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A storm with 40-foot waves battered the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine late Friday night, breaking glass, causing water to pour into the ship and terrifying passengers.

The ship, en route from the Bahamas to Charleston, encountered the storm off the South Carolina coast.

“We had a 40-foot wave hit our side of the ship. We almost fell out the bed. Things were crashing all around us and the carpet on my side of the bed was soaked (because) water came in thru our balcony door,” passenger Goodwin Sherbert wrote on Facebook .

Passenger William B. Blackburn, aboard for his first cruise with his wife and other family members, told CNN they stayed in their cabin and prayed they would be OK.

“(We) discussed the fact that it would be very unlikely to survive in the water even with life jackets and doubted that lifeboats could even be launched in those conditions,” he said. “It was terrifying.”

Video posted to Twitter under the handle @CrewCenter showed water running up and down a hallway and said the crew on one deck had to be evacuated to another part of the ship.

At one point the ship was listing to the left, CBS News reported .

“The ship took a hit from a wave that sounded like the ship split in two,” passenger Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University, said in a Twitter post .

Some passengers complained to CNN and CBS News about a lack of communication from cruise staff as the ship was pitching about.

Tutrone said the only time passengers heard from the captain was on Friday when he told them he had an experienced crew and would do everything he could to minimize discomfort as the ship encountered the storm.

Some passengers and crew members needed “minor assistance” from medical staff, a Carnival cruise spokesperson told CBS News. “Guests on board the ship were safe,” the spokesperson added.

The ship’s docking in Charleston was delayed by the weather. Some repairs to crew quarters also delayed its departure over the weekend to return to the Bahamas.

The National Hurricane Center warned on Friday that a non-tropical area of low pressure off Florida was set to move northward and inland over the Carolinas during the weekend. Forecasters said there would be gusty winds, dangerous surf and rip current conditions along parts of the southeastern coast of the United States through Sunday.

Passenger Bill Hassler, who told CNN he was “surprised I’m still alive” after enduring the storm, criticized the cruise line for allowing the ship to sail into such extreme weather.

“Why would you sail into this storm with 80 mph-plus winds, I mean who does that?” Hassler said. “What were they thinking?”

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Water surges into rooms on Carnival cruise ship battered by waves off Charleston

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — A storm off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, battered a Carnival cruise ship for hours late Friday night before it docked, leaving passengers terrified.

Passengers aboard the Carnival Sunshine described shattered glass, water pouring into rooms and hallways, the ship pitching about and a lack of communication from cruise staff. Some passengers and crew members needed "minor assistance" from medical staff, a Carnival cruise spokesman told CBS News. "Guests on board the ship were safe," the spokesman added. 

Carnival Sunshine, which was headed from the Bahamas to South Carolina, arrived in Charleston behind schedule, according to the spokesman. Some crew cabins needed to be temporarily taken out of service because of water damage. The ship's next voyage, on which it has since embarked, was also delayed.

The National Hurricane Center on Friday 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 said there would be gusty winds, dangerous surf and rip current conditions along portions of the U.S.'s southeastern coast through Sunday.

Passenger Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University, tweeted Friday that the ship was rocking. 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. 

"They said it will get worse as we get closer to the storm," she tweeted. "@CarnivalCruise  is doing an EXCELLENT job!"

She tweeted again on Saturday afternoon, describing " 14 hours of high winds, rain and massive waves ." 

"We were surrounded by lightning and the ship took a huge hit by a wave and sounded like it split in two," Tutrone tweeted.

Several passengers, including Brenda Goodwin Sherbert, posted on social media about broken glass on the ship . They also wrote about water coming in through balcony doors.

"We had a 40 foot wave hit our side of the ship,.. we almost fell out the bed.. things were crashing all around us and the carpet on my side of the bed was soaked bc water came in thru our balcony door," Goodwin Sherbert wrote.

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• Video shows Carnival Sunshine cruise ship rocked by storm off East Coast

Passenger Reid Overcash, who was on the cruise with his wife, said televisions on the ship displayed a message during the storm: "Public address announcement please standby." 

He said it was when winds had reached between 70-90 mph and the ship was tilting left that he truly feared for his life.

"Myself being in emergency services and retired, I knew nobody was going to come and rescue us with winds over 40 knots," Overcash said.

The trip marked Overcash's seventh cruise. He said he's not going to let the frightening experience stop him from going on more cruises in the future. 

"It's just one of them unlucky experiences that occurs once in a while," he said.

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Cruise turns into nightmare as powerful storm floods ship and leaves passengers vomiting

The ship arrived nine hours late after riding through the centre of a storm, article bookmarked.

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Vacation dreams turned to nightmares for some Carnival Cruise Line passengers when torrential rains flooded the ship over the weekend.

Carnival Sunshine was returning to Charleston on Saturday after a six-day Bahamas cruise when the ship was set upon by a storm . Torrential rains flooded the hallways of the ship and rough sea conditions made some passengers nauseous.

"You could smell people being sick walking down the halls," one passenger told The Daily Mail .

A Carnival representative said all of the passengers were safe during the incident.

"Carnival Sunshine's return to Charleston was impacted by the weather and rough seas on Saturday. Guests on board the ship were safe. Our medical staff helped a small number of guests and crew members who needed minor assistance," the company told WCIV . "The weather's prolonged impact on the Charleston area delayed the ship's arrival on Sunday, and as a result, the next voyage's embarkation was also delayed. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all our guests."

Some guests who experienced the voyage seemed more frustrated than patient.

"We didn't wait it out. We sailed right into [the storm] and spent 11 hours pitching, diving, and rolling," Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University and a passenger on board the Carnival Sunshine said on Twitter. "We were surrounded by lightning and the ship took a huge hit by a wave and sounded like it split in two."

In a follow-up tweet, she tagged Carnival and suggested that "maybe you should have a pilot onboard so we didn't have to sit and drift for 6 hours waiting."

Photos from the ship showed water rushing down hallways and stairwells, and on-board shops that look as though they've been ransacked due to the force of the storm.

Another traveler, Daniel Taylor, told The Daily Mail he went to see a show at an onboard venue shortly after the captain announced the ship would be traveling through inclement weather.

He recalled hearing the sound of the ship smashing against huge swells audible over the music.

"Stage lights mounted on the ceiling began to shake, the disco ball started swinging and the LED wall on the stage," which he estimated to be approximately 20ft wide and 3oft tall, "began rolling side by side on its own."

By 8pm on Friday evening the ship's crew began evacuating public decks. During the overnight hours between Friday and Saturday, the passengers lost internet connection, removing their ability to watch the weather on their own.

At 7:30am the next day, the cruise director reportedly confirmed to the passengers that the ship was at the harbour but needed to wait to dock.

The ship was finally docked again at 5:30pm on Saturday night, approximately nine hours past schedule.

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A Carnival Sunshine passenger says he's surprised to be alive after the ship was rocked by a terrifying storm that smashed his window

• A cruise-ship passenger spoke of his surprise at surviving a storm while at sea.
• Bill Hassler told CNN that a wave broke the window of his cabin and let water in.
• The Carnival Sunshine had been returning from the Bahamas and heading for South Carolina.

A passenger on board a cruise ship that was caught up in a terrifying storm while sailing to Charleston, South Carolina, says he feared for his life. 

A storm off the Southeastern coast of the US hit the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship during its return from the Bahamas last weekend, Fox Weather reported. Data from the National Weather Service showed that there were wind speeds of up to 46 miles per hour in some areas of Charleston over the weekend. 

Bill Hassler, a passenger on board the ship, told CNN he was "surprised I'm still alive" after the storm. He told the news outlet a wave broke the window of his cabin and let water in.

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He said: "When I got home Sunday night, I had to crack open a beer and think about it, and I started shaking because it just set in. I couldn't even believe I'm still here."

One video showing severe flooding in the aftermath of the incident was posted on Twitter by Crew Center and also featured in the CNN report.

Speaking to CNN, Hassler criticized the cruise operator for sailing in poor weather conditions, questioning why officials didn't wait for the storm to subside before setting off. 

Representatives for Carnival Cruise Line did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. However, a spokesperson said in a statement shared on Monday that the ship's "return to Charleston was impacted by the weather and rough seas on Saturday."

"The weather's prolonged impact on the Charleston area delayed the ship's arrival and as a result, the next voyage's embarkation was also delayed. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all our guests. Carnival Sunshine is now sailing on its next cruise," the statement read. 

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WATCH: Cruise Passengers Share Terrifying Videos from 'Nightmare' Storm at Sea

The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship made it back to port safely on Saturday after being stuck in a storm between the Bahamas and Charleston, S.C. for 15 hours

The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship made it back to port nine hours later than planned after sailing through a terrifying storm on Friday night.

The ship was on its way to Charleston, S.C. from the Bahamas when it got caught in severe weather, including nearly 80 mph winds. Passengers on board shared details and footage of the chaos and destruction caused by the storm on social media. Thankfully, Carnival told PEOPLE in a statement provided below that "no one was seriously injured."

Crew Center, a cruise ship information site, posted a video on Twitter showing a flooded hallway, torn-off doors and other debris and destruction on board.

"The aftermath aboard Carnival Sunshine after a severe storm," the post read. "The crew from Deck 0-4 evacuated to the theater, and anywhere they could rest… the crew bar destroyed."

brad morrell/storyful

Passenger Daniel Taylor told Newsweek that the captain made an announcement around 4:45 p.m. saying that they would be experiencing a delay due to "adverse weather conditions," expressing that they "would do everything they could to minimize discomfort.

By dinner time, public decks had been closed off, and plates and cups were flying off the buffet areas, he recalled.

By the early hours of Saturday morning, he said, "We were no longer able to see where we were going, how fast we were going, what the wind speed was, or anything. We were blind to what was going on." Swells were hitting the ship "over and over," said Taylor, who also recalled seeing crew members wearing life vests.

At that point, the internet was also out, so those on board couldn't get any additional information or reach loved ones.

Matthew Branham, who was also on board, told The Washington Post , that "waves were hitting the boat so hard that it was like an earthquake experience, jarring you like a really rough roller coaster — even in the middle floor."

TVs were falling off walls and glasses shattering. “You could not stand up in your room,” he said. “You could be thrown from the bed."

Another passenger, RJ Whited, wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post cited by Newsweek , "Our cruise ship last night was literally sideways and slung everything in our room breaking, people in the hallways throwing up and sleeping on the stairs."

Added Whited, "We also found out that they knew about the storm and instead of us staying back to ride it out a few hours they hit it head-on so we could make it back for the other cruise to be on time."

Finally, the ship made it back to Charleston around 7:30 a.m., though it couldn't immediately dock due to continuing rough weather.

At 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, the ship was able to dock.

Summing up the "nightmare" experience, passenger Christa Seifert-Alicea told NBC News 4 : "What we endured is indescribable, not only to feel it yourself but to hear and see it set in on every single person around you from adult, child and the elderly is something I will never forget."

In a statement to PEOPLE on Wednesday, Carnival said: "Carnival Sunshine's return to Charleston was impacted by the weather and rough seas on Saturday. The weather's prolonged impact on the Charleston area delayed the ship's arrival and as a result, the next voyage's embarkation was also delayed. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all our guests." The statement claims that "the ship's crew followed our protocols for rough weather" noting, "thankfully, no one was seriously injured."

"The weather was unexpectedly strong, causing conditions that were rougher than forecasted," the statement continues. "Given the circumstances as they were, the ship's officers and our Fleet Operations Center team using real time meteorology data coordinated to keep the ship in its safest location. Attempting to sail out of the large front could have been dangerous. The ship proceeded to the port as soon as the weather began to clear." The cruise line's statement also said that the captain "made several announcements about the weather and the delay" but noted "some of the worst weather occurred in the overnight hours when announcements are not typically made."

The Carnival Sunshine is already on its next voyage, the cruise line confirmed.

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Video shows Carnival Sunshine cruise ship rocked by storm off East Coast

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — New video shows a Carnival Cruise that ended in chaos off the East Coast this weekend.

Passengers on the Carnival Sunshine got battered by nasty weather.

Several videos were posted to social media as the ship waited to get back to port in South Carolina.

Travelers said they spent the 12 hours waiting to dock getting rocked by huge waves and lashing rain the whole time.

The video showed lower decks flooded with doors knocked off their hinges. So far, we haven't seen any official reports of any injuries.

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Norwegian, Carnival and more cruise lines change itineraries due to Hurricane Beryl

Get more news like this delivered to your inbox by signing up for our Travel newsletter here . 

As Hurricane Beryl moves across the Caribbean, a number of cruise lines have changed itineraries in the area in an effort to avoid the storm.

▶ Norwegian Cruise Line altered nearly the entire itinerary for a week-long sailing on its Norwegian Breakaway ship that departed from Miami, Florida, on Sunday. The line canceled stops in Honduras, Harvest Caye in Belize, and Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, according to a letter sent to guests that the line shared with USA TODAY. The ship will instead visit Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas instead.

“While we share your disappointment, these modifications were made with great consideration as your safety, and that of our crew, is always our number one priority,” the letter said.

The line similarly changed a week-long sailing aboard Norwegian Jade that left Port Canaveral on Saturday, replacing planned calls in Falmouth, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel with San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tortola and Puerto Plata.

Was your cruise itinerary changed? Here's what to do next

▶ Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Liberty ship moved a planned Friday stop in Cozumel up to Tuesday. The vessel departed on a week-long cruise from New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday, according to CruiseMapper .

Carnival Horizon, which is sailing a six-day itinerary that left Miami on Sunday, will skip a visit to Grand Cayman on Wednesday.

“The safety of our guests and crew is paramount, and we are continuing to monitor forecasts and factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard, and the local port authorities to provide timely updates to our guests as more information becomes available,” spokesperson Matt Lupoli said in an emailed statement.

▶ Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy ship – which set sail on a week-long cruise from Port Canaveral on Saturday – will not visit Falmouth as planned on Wednesday. The stop will be replaced with a sea day .

The center of the storm is expected to “move quickly across the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea today,” passing near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands the following day, the National Hurricane Center said.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Everything Cruise Lines Don't Want You to Know

Carnival Sunshine Hit By Rough Weather Returning to Charleston

Yesterday, we were informed by a number of guests onboard the Carnival Sunshine that the cruise ship encountered severe weather as the vessel was returning from a cruise to the Bahamas.

What’s the Chinese Proverb? A picture is worth a thousand words?

Rather than try and explain what happened, we will just post some of the videos of the ordeal from Facebook and Twitter, here:

The aftermath aboard Carnival Sunshine after a severe storm. The crew from Deck 0-4 evacuated to the theater, and anywhere they could rest… the crew bar destroyed. pic.twitter.com/MqsDJYvrSG — Crew Center (@CrewCenter) May 28, 2023

pic.twitter.com/tt0slba4Z1 — Gabby Whorley (@gabs_whorley) May 28, 2023

You can see other videos of the storm and the cruise in question here .

Have a comment or question or a photo or video to share? Please leave one below or join the conversation on our Facebook page .

Image credit: Respective Facebook and Twitter accounts including Dylan Allen / @DylanAllenWx for cover images.

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Multiple cruises rerouted, cancelled due to Hurricane Beryl

Ryan Mackey , Digital Journalist

MIAMI – A number of cruise lines have changed itineraries to avoid Hurricane Beryl.

After striking the small island of Carriacou at the entrance of the eastern Caribbean as a 150 mph Category 4 hurricane on Monday, Beryl continued to intensify through the overnight hours, becoming a 165 mph Category 5 hurricane by early Tuesday , according to Local 10 Hurricane Specialist and Storm Surge Expert Michael Lowry.

Multiple cruise companies announced Tuesday that they are making significant adjustments to their Caribbean sailings as Hurricane Beryl approaches, prioritizing the safety of guests and crew.

Royal Caribbean said its Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas ships have all changed itineraries due to the hurricane, according to their website. Read the full list of changes by clicking here.

A spokesperson for the cruise line released a statement to Local 10 News Tuesday, which you can read here:

“The safety of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority. Along with our Chief Meteorologist, we are closely monitoring the progression of Hurricane Beryl, and are making adjustments to some of our Caribbean sailings for the comfort and safety of our guests and crew. Guests and travel advisors will be notified directly of any necessary changes.”

Norwegian Cruise Line also reported amendments to the routes for its Jade and Takeaway ships due to the hurricane.

The cruise line has significantly altered the itinerary for its week-long Norwegian Breakaway voyage that departed from Miami on Sunday.

According to a letter sent to guests, the cruise will no longer stop in Honduras, Harvest Caye in Belize, Costa Maya, and Cozumel in Mexico. Instead, the ship will visit Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

Norwegian released the following statement which was obtained by Local 10 News on Tuesday.

“The safety and security of our guests, crew and communities we visit is always a top priority. We are monitoring the projected path of Hurricane Beryl and have amended the itineraries for Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Breakaway’s current voyages. Please see the letters attached, which were provided to all guests on board, for full details,” a Norwegian spokesperson stated.

The Carnival Horizon has canceled its scheduled stop in the Cayman Islands, while the Carnival Liberty will visit Cozumel on Tuesday instead of on July 5.

Additionally, “Disney Fantasy, which is currently sailing a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary, will no longer call on Falmouth, Jamaica on Wednesday. The ship will instead spend the day at sea,” according to a Disney spokesperson.

These changes come as part of the cruise lines’ efforts to navigate safely through the impending storm.

FOR THE LATEST UPDATES , visit the complete coverage of hurricanes page , visit the weather page for the hourly local forecast , sign up for the free e-mail Talking Tropics newsletter , and download the free tracker mobile app on the Apple Store or Google Play .

Local 10 viewers can find the itinerary changes for Norwegian’s Jade and Breakaway cruise ships in the documents provided below.

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Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Ryan mackey.

Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Long Island, New York, and has lived in Sunrise, Florida since 1994.

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World's Largest Cruise Ship Forced To Change Route As Hurricane Beryl Rages

The world's largest cruise ship is one of several that has had to change plans to avoid Hurricane Beryl.

The Category 4 storm has wreaked havoc in parts of the Caribbean, killing at least 7 people, according to the Associated Press, and forcing the Icon of the Seas to alter its schedule.

Read more: Start Growing Your Emergency Fund Today

Shipping line Royal Caribbean, which owns the vessel, sent an email to passengers on June 29, seen by Cruise Blog, which said the Icon of the Seas' schedule had been modified "to provide (passengers) with the most enjoyable sailing" because they were expecting "high waves and strong winds."

Stops in the Caribbean at Philipsburg in St. Maarten and Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas were swapped with Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico.

The company wrote: "While it's not the originally planned itinerary, we know you'll have a memorable time!

"We're terribly sorry for the last-minute change by the weather – your safety is our top priority.

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"Please know, being onboard is one of the safest places because we are faster and can move out of the way of any inclement weather."

Chief Meteorologist of Royal Caribbean Group Craig Setzter wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "The deep tropical Atlantic is very much alive very early in the season, and unfortunately is likely a harbinger of things to come this summer & fall."

Icon of the Seas is 1,197 feet long, with 20 decks and is able to host a staggering 7,600 passengers.

It is the newest vessel in Royal Caribbean's fleet, snagging titles from previous Royal Caribbean stars like Wonder of the Seas .

Read more: Best Ways to Use Travel Points or Miles

Icon of the Seas , which entered service on January 27, boasts 40 restaurants, bars and lounges and has its own onboard water park—which all cost about $2 billion to build.

Tickets range from an average of $1,946 to $2,318 per person, depending on how many days the cruise is for and what time of the year it departs.

According to the Royal Caribbean Blog's discussion forum, Wonder of the Seas also changed its route, substituting stops at Cozumel, off the east coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, and Nassau, in the Bahamas, for visits to Roatán and Costa Maya.

Newsweek has contacted Royal Caribbean, via email, for comment.

Other cruise ships that have made adjustments in light of the storm, according to Cruise Blog, include the Norwegian Jade , the Norwegian Breakaway , the Celebrity Beyond , the Carnival Liberty and the Carnival Horizon .

Update 4/7/2024 8:52 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.

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