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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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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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Passengers hit by a storm on a Royal Caribbean cruise line cling to railings as intense gusts rock the ship and send debris flying, videos show

• A Royal Caribbean cruise was battered by gusts of rain and wind before its departure Friday.
• Passengers shared videos of patrons sliding along the deck during the storm.
• The cruise line says no serious injuries or damage occurred as a result of the storm.

Passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship ran for cover as umbrellas, chairs, and other furniture flew around them during a sudden, spectacular storm that struck Florida's Port Canaveral on Friday.

As the Independence of the Seas prepared to depart, strong winds and rain battered the 15-deck ship. In multiple videos posted to YouTube and Twitter , passengers are shown slipping and sliding across the decks while attempting to get safely inside.

The ship departed for the Bahamas despite the storm and arrived at CocoCay on time, according to a Royal Caribbean statement to Insider. The company called the storm "brief" and said there were no serious injuries to crewmembers or passengers.  

Related stories

Passengers took to the internet to describe their personal experiences. 

"Instead of telling people to come up to the top deck when we have a severe thunderstorm warning, maybe you should be more worried about your guests and employees and tell them to get inside," tweeted one passenger who filmed the storm .

Jerry Pike, a photographer and Florida local, told Insider he watched the storm hit the Independence of the Seas while sitting in a car in Jetty Park facing the port. Though the storm lasted only minutes, he said it was "exceptionally strong." 

—Jerry Pike (@JerryPikePhoto) June 16, 2023

Pike estimated winds reached between 40 and 50 miles per hour at the height of the storm, which he added was "terrifying" to watch. A meteorologist for Fox 35 reported winds reached from 55 to 60 miles an hour at their peak strength. 

"The Independence was just getting battered by winds as it was trying to push off the dock," Pike said. "Then [it] was covered by the gray cloud of rain and we couldn't see more than 20 yards out the window."  

The storm is just one of many expected to hit the Florida coast as hurricane season begins in the Atlantic Ocean, which runs from the beginning of June to November 30.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

• Main content

Footage shows moment Royal Caribbean cruise ship was flooded during storm in the Gulf of Mexico

Water flowed into rooms and sunbeds were strewn across the deck as the vessel was battered by the fierce weather conditions.

Friday 2 February 2024 12:39, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Footage has emerged of a cruise ship being flooded during a storm in the Gulf of Mexico - causing water to flow into people's cabins.

Travis Hair, a passenger on the Royal Caribbean vessel, filmed as the balcony of his room on the Voyager Of The Seas was swamped.

Mr Hair said he captured the video while the vessel was "sailing through a thunderstorm" on 26 January.

He added there were "high winds on the deck… platters of food crashing to the floor in the buffet, liquor and other glass breaking, water coming in through the balconies and flooding."

The footage also shows sunbeds piled up on the deck after being tossed around in the powerful storm.

The vessel was on its way back to Galveston, Texas, as part of a five-night trip to Cozumel, Mexico, according to USA Today.

Passenger Chelsea Ireland told the newspaper she felt the vessel tilt as it was battered by heavy winds.

She said: "When we tried to walk across our room, it felt like we were walking up a very steep hill."

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Fellow passenger Elaina Escobedo, 21, went to her grandparent's cabin to check on them during the storm. "There were just things flying all over the place," she said.

Ms Escobedo added that her grandmother was safe on the sofa, but her wheelchair had rolled across the room and cups of lemonade had been knocked over.

The footage emerged after another Royal Caribbean ship, Serenade of the Seas, reportedly flooded last month.

Sky News has contacted Royal Caribbean for comment.

Related Topics

• cruise ships

Watch: Storm floods cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico

Royal caribbean's voyager of the seas first encountered hail as the ship was heading back to its home port of galveston, texas..

Storm floods cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico

Video shot on Friday shows floodwater flowing through a cabin on a Royal Caribbean cruise line. (Courtesy: Jessica Helms via Storyful)

GALVESTON, Texas – A ferocious storm that struck a cruise ship while in the Gulf of Mexico Friday left at least one cabin flooded as torrential rains poured down.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas first encountered hail as the ship was heading back to its home port of Galveston, Texas .

Water flows into the cabin.

(Jessica Helms via Storyful / FOX Weather)

Video from a passenger inside their cabin shows hail that can be heard striking the glass door and seen bouncing on a black chair outside and then falling onto a pool of water on the floor.

CARNIVAL CRUISE'S JUBILEE VESSEL RESCUE TWO MEN OFF MEXICO

As heavy rains fall, water on the balcony can then floods into the cabin itself, soaking a path through the carpet, under a bed and leading to the door.

The dark portion of the carpet shows where the floodwater flowed into the cabin from the balcony.

"Hope there’s nothing electrical that we’re gonna get electrocuted on," said Jessica Helms, who filmed the flooding in her cabin.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

She referred to the flooding as a "complete river" that extended across the hall to her neighbor’s room.

13 Worst Cruise Ships in the World

13 worst cruises.

The cruising industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite more cancellations in recent news, we're hoping for a comeback in the near future. After all, more than 26 million passengers set sail in 2018 — a 3 percent year-over-year increase from previous years — so who's to say those numbers can't eventually return?

Carrying thousands of passengers on ships that are five times bigger than the Titanic, cruise lines have amped up the bells and whistles to convince travelers to ride the seas with them. From Broadway-worthy shows, to celebrity-inspired menus, to gigantic water parks and thrill rides, cruises can be an amazing vacation. However, with more than 300 cruise ships, not all of them can be winners.

Here, we take a look at the worst cruise ships to take. See which of the ships you should skip — and which to sail instead.

13. Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is actually a fabulous cruise line with many top-rate amenities, cabins and excursions. If you pick the right ship.

With 27 ships, there are bound to be a few that slip through the cracks, and for RCCL, one of those is Ovation of the Seas.

Reviewers are not impressed with the ship's cramped dining spaces and pool, average-at-best food and, as one reviewer puts it, "SO MANY GIMMICKS" — including robot bartenders that don't add much to the experience.

The one bright spot? The ship's size, which several reviewers note is, at the least, impressive. (Its maximum occupancy is nearly 5,000 passengers.)

*Note: Reviews and ratings come from leading cruise-review website  CruiseCritic.com .

Ovation of the Seas Reviews

Customer rating: 3 stars

Reviewers say:

• "She ain't pretty, she just looks that way." (gmlaetta)
• "I know why I choose Princess cruises!" (Amanda71)
• "Huge ship that wastes its time with underwhelming features." (soro01)

12. Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's other stinker is also part of its Quantum Class. When the ship was built in 2014, it was Royal Caribbean's largest ship. And at the time it launched, CruiseCritic loved it, giving it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. 

As the years have passed, though, the aging ship has been surpassed by even larger ships by Royal Caribbean, which means it was sent to China and no longer services the Caribbean market. And passengers have noticed.

Reviewers repeatedly express that the ship is intended for a Chinese audience, "with little or no consideration for the nearly 40 percent non-Chinese." 

Other complaints? Cold food and long wait times to board.

Quantum of the Seas Reviews

• "Like most western passengers we too had a very disappointing cruise." (desr4t)
• "I felt no one knew what they were doing." (j53)
• "This is not a vacation for the faint hearted!" (BezzyB)

Better Royal Caribbean Ships

If you're going to catch a cruise with Royal Caribbean, you will find that there are many new ships with 4-star customer ratings on CruiseCritic.

The best of the best? CruiseCritic editors give a coveted 5-star rating to Allure of the Seas. This mega-ship, built in 2009, can hold 6,400 passengers and offers a Central Park in the middle of the ship, outstanding restaurants and entertainment, and so much to do you won't get bored during a day at sea.

Customers give it high marks, too: More than 1,500 of the roughly 2,800 reviews are excellent 5-star ratings.

CruiseCritic's Managing Editor Adam Coulter describes the ship as "breathtaking, both in scale and ambition."

11. Princess Cruises' Majestic

Princess Cruises earned fame when one of its ships starred as "the Love Boat" in the '70s. And its 19 ships mostly get high marks from the CruiseCritic team and passengers.

But there's one exception: The Majestic, which despite earning a respectable 4.5 in the editors' reviews, strikes out with cruisers. 

The ship, which sails in Australia's waters, earns low marks for its poor design, crammed quarters, staff shortages and too-small theater.

"Majestic," it seems, is not an entirely apt descriptor.

Majestic Reviews

• "If you are between 70 - 90 yrs old, then this slow paced ship is designed for you. It was boring." (Wendyro)
• "Nice ship but not a lot of atmosphere." (c7009)
• "A lot of passengers on this cruise were very dissapointed and it was a shame." (vnibbs1)

Better Princess Ships

Five Princess ships have a superior rating of 3.5 stars, and two of those five also get 4.5-star marks from the editors at CruiseCritic: the Crown Princess and Emerald Princess.

Both ships can hold more than 3,000 passengers, with the Crown sailing in the Caribbean and the British Isles while the Emerald takes on Alaska and Hawaii. 

mjfun78 called the Crown Princess a magical cruise that did not disappoint, while coloradolovestocruise loved the Emerald Princess and called it "another excellent Princess cruise."

10. MSC's Meraviglia

The largest ship in the MSC line, Meraviglia holds nearly 4,500 cruisers, and travels to coveted destinations in Europe and the Caribbean.

But recent reviews have not been kind. 

The most commonly singled-out problems? Boring food, a lack of interesting on-board activities and unfriendly staff. One first-time MSC cruiser, rosyc, specifically compared the ship unfavorably to Carnival and Celebrity ships. 

Meraviglia Reviews

• "First time on MSC... Not sure I'll do it again." (EllaDuChien)
• "Poor food, sad, unfriendly staff and no customer support." (Rjrja20)
• "Worst cruise ever!" (rosyc)

9. MSC's Lirica

CruiseCritic editors gave MSC Lirica just 3 of 5 stars, matching customers in their lackluster response. 

Built in 2003, the Lirica is definitely on the older side of cruise ships, which never bodes well. And reviewers, many avid cruisers, routinely complain of horrible food and equally bad service — a losing combination.

Also lambasted: the amateurish entertainment offerings.

Lirica Reviews

• "We have done over 50 cruises. We usually go with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Cunard. A few with P&O. However, we had never tried MSC and so decided to do this. Biggest mistake I have made in my life." (gettinold)
• "Have travelled on other cruise lines, but this was the worst ever." (pdale)
• "Don't book this ship very poor." (Soreen)

8. MSC's Armonia

The oldest ship in a cruise line's fleet is bound to face complaints — who wants something old when there are so many new ships to try?

What's worse? This ship wasn't originally an MSC ship at all; it was built for Festival Cruises in 2001.

Traveling between Miami and Cuba, the ship's woes include poor-quality food, limited culinary options, unfriendly service and substandard cleanliness. 

Even the CruiseCritic pros give it only a 3.5 out of 5, and they are often very generous.

Armonia Reviews

• "Old, Tired, and Poor Service." (midwest60)
• "Ironically, MSC never sent me a post cruise survey, and I am truthfully not surprised." (TexasCruiseBella)
• "This ship needs to be retired or sent to another port where the standards are not as high." (guscave)

7. MSC's Preziosa

Debuting in 2013, MSC's Preziosa originally received rave reviews, having launched with a more modern cruising style to compete with larger lines like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian.

Unfortunately, the cruise industry is a fast-moving and fickle one, and in the years since, the ship's reviews have deteriorated. Cruisers don't complain much about the ship in terms of cleanliness or beauty. Instead, they find the food is cold — and old — service is sub-par, and the entertainment leaves something to be desired. 

Preziosa Reviews

• "There is not much to do on board. Just some dance lessons, stretch exercise and a trivia that is done in 5 languages. It's a pain to sit through that." (Tinkerbell8)
• "It was our first time cruising and it has certainly NOT given us the 'bug'!!" (LesC29)
• "We were excited to try a new cruise line and had high hopes of a great experience. We were disappointed. The ship is very glitzy but has very little comfort." (JennyPan)

Better MSC Ships

While MSC dominates this list with its four three-star ships, this doesn't mean it's a disappointment across the board; the rest of its 19 ships fare better.

While its low-rated trips cater to an international crowd, two of its North American ships in particular are nailing it: the MSC Divinia and MSC Seaside, the latter of which gets a nearly flawless score by the editors. 

"MSC Seaside is lively and fun, incorporating jaw-dropping entertainment, lots of outdoor spaces (it's a sun worshipper's paradise!) and family-friendly activities that include a 4D cinema, bowling, ziplines and a large water park," writes CruiseCritic editor Ashley Kosciolek.

Cruisers agree, citing its excellent shows and beautiful design as reasons to set sail. J-Chalmski even described a recent itinerary on the ship as "the best cruise we have ever been on!"

6. Previously Cruise & Maritime's Magellan

Cruise & Maritime's Magellan began its run as a Carnival Cruise Line ship in 1985. Nearly 25 years and two owners later, the ship was still sailing before the pandemic hit, and not racking up awards for awesomeness.

Customers lament low-quality cuisine, amateurish entertainment, overpriced excursions and (yes) persistent bad smells. This despite the fact that the ship was completely refurbished in 2015 by Cruise & Maritime, and that it's considered the cruise line's flagship. (What does that say about the line's additional boats?)

When Cruise & Maritime collapsed in July 2020, it put the Magellan up for sale. The Magellan should set sail again under its new ownership, Seajets, but only time will tell if it will earn better marks.

Magellan Reviews

Customer rating: 3 stars

• "Dreaded from start to finish." (BarryandU)
• "Cruise from Hell." (ChilledSun)
• "The food on this ship was shocking. Typically, it was to a standard I wouldn’t accept if I was cooking at home. On the plus side, nobody I knew gained weight from eating on the cruise." (SLydon)

5. Carnival Sunrise

Carnival Corporation has 30 ships sailing the seven seas, and most of them have excellent reviews.

Carnival is notorious for being "the fun ship" and budget-friendly. But alas, one ship made it onto the worst-of list: the Sunrise.

A CruiseCritic editor ranked it 4 out of 5 stars, which sounds like they were being kind to a heavy advertiser, as the reviews by passengers were much worse. 

Even the friendly editor admitted that the lines and crowds were impossible to escape, and said the ship is not at all a quiet one.

Sunrise Reviews

Customer rating: 2.5 stars

• "Book another cruise, it’s not a vacation, this experience only consists of many many lines." (Kikican)
• "Swimming was impossible — pools were so crowded you only had room to stand." (kbcm341)
• "We love cruising but this cruise is not good." (Dntmcgee7)

Better Carnival Ships

Carnival ships are beloved by reviewers, with thousands of reviews for practically all ships but Sunrise. With the majority of these ships nabbing 3.5 to 4 stars, the leader of the pack is Carnival Vista, which received a 5.0 from CruiseCritic editors and 4.5 stars from fellow passengers.

There is so much to do on this action-packed ship — including a water park! — that the editor spending 10 days aboard couldn't sample everything. Now that is a good time.

4. Costa's Deliziosa

Costa Cruises earned negative headlines when its Concordia ship sank in Italy nearly a decade ago, killing 32 people. Despite the disaster, the Italian-based cruise company still welcomes cruisers who love its ships.

But there are a few ships they don't.

One faring not so well on the list is the Deliziosa. You know you're in trouble when headlines warn "think again," "never again" and "beware."

The most common complaints are related to the ship's poor food, described at turns as "bland" and "cold;" subpar dining service (a few complained about getting sick from the cuisine); and hospitality desk staffed by employees with limited knowledge. 

Oh, and it doesn't help that in 2017, a crew member went overboard on the ship.

Deliziosa Reviews

Customer rating: 2.5 stars 

• "Buckle up kiddos, because you're in for quite a ride with this one." (snguyenx96)
• "Don't even know where to start." (JandBtravelers)
• "Will not meet expectations if you have cruised anywhere else." (andbolton)

3. Costa's Fascinosa

When CruiseCritic editors don't even provide a review of a ship, does that say something about the Fascinosa?

This dismally rated ship is knocked for its repetitive, less-than-savory food — one reviewer noticed its dinner desserts recycled as breakfast the next morning, while another slammed even its OJ as watery. The service doesn't fare much better, with many calling the staff rude and unenthused. 

Fascinosa Reviews

• "If you have self-respect, don't even book." (Maninu91)
• "I have cruised before, but this was the worst." (Anne346)
• "Dreadful avoid at all costs." (Patricia Pace)

2. Costa's Favolosa

Not to pick on Costa, but another ship that doesn't hit the mark, nabbing only a 2.5-star average review from cruise-goers, is the cruise line's Favolosa, which ironically means "fabulous" in Italian.

Like the Fascinosa, CruiseCritic's editors never bothered checking out the ship, which is probably for their own good; customer reviews knock the ship's subpar cleanliness, lack of food and beverages, and poor service. And, as many complained, water to drink isn't included in the price of the cruise!

Favolosa Reviews

• "Bad service overall, worst attitude I've ever seen on a cruise ship." (Sgonzalez100)
• "Every port we came to we could not wait to get OFF the ship." (sugarb204)
• "Do not throw away your money on this company and its ships." (bomag43)

1. Costa Venezia

More bad news for Costa. Launching this new ship in March 2019, the reviews have not been favorable.

Its maiden voyage sailed from Trieste to Dubai to Singapore to Yokohama to remain based in Shanghai.  Passengers wanted to enjoy luxurious cruising in China, but it appears Costa hasn't nailed this market quite yet.

Maybe it's just early sailing kinks?

Venezia Reviews

Customer rating: 1.5 stars

• "Worst cruise ever, bad food, long queue, terrible service, bad singer, snobbish crew." (cruise freek)
• "This cruise offered an amazing itinerary but it was terrible." (Lorrie200)
• "I first chose this cruise for the ports it was stopping at, what a mistake, the embarkation at Singapore should have told me what was to come ... how can it take 4 hours to board a ship." (Maggiee123)

Better Costa Ships

With no ship earning more than three stars, Costa is clearly not the best line to sail with. But not all Costa passengers have had horrible experiences.

CruiseCritic ranks Costa Mediterranea and Costa Magica as the top two ships by the Italian cruise company, owned by Carnival. Sail one of these, and you could have an experience that defies Costa's poor industry reputation. 

Wrote Sandystruis after sailing the Mediterranea: "Having read so many negative reviews, we were very skeptical and even contemplated canceling before sailing. Thank goodness we didn't. We have been on 13 cruises with different companies and this cruise was by far the best."

Watch CBS News

First cruise ship leaves Port of Baltimore since Key Bridge collapse

Carnival cruise ship responds to distress call, rescues 25 stranded people

S AN DIEGO ( KSWB/KUSI ) — A Carnival cruise ship responded to calls for help and detoured from its normal vacation route on Saturday to help two dozen people stranded at sea off the coast of Mexico.

Sailing from its homeport of Long Beach in Southern California, the cruise ship responded to a call from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Saturday about a small boat full of people who were stranded at sea in the area.

According to the cruise line, Carnival Radiance  was sailing toward Ensenada, Mexico, Saturday afternoon when they got the call from the Coast Guard.

Carnival said the ship was then routed to the location provided and they were able to rescue all 25 people, including three children, who were stranded on a small boat. The Coast Guard said it also launched a small boat and helicopter to assist.

Carnival said it then provided food, water and medical assistance to the rescued boaters, while a rendezvous was coordinated with Coast Guard officials.

The cruise line noted Carnival Radiance’s three-day cruise from Long Beach will remain on schedule despite the small detour to rescue the boaters in need.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.

'No washy, no food': Meet Washy Washy, Royal Caribbean's singing public health character

Some of the best entertainment on Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ships happens at the sink.

Crew members throughout Royal Caribbean's fleet play Washy Washy, a character who reminds guests to stop at hand-washing stations when they enter various dining venues. They perform public health-themed covers of popular songs. Videos featuring their takes on hits like Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “No Woman, No Cry” (“No washy, no food”) and the Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha” (“Don’t cha wish your girlfriend washy washy like me”) have gone viral on social media in recent months.

The role – whose actual title is host or hostess of the venue – has been around for more than 15 years, with cruise ship employees adding their own spins, according to Rebecca Burns, the line’s Senior Manager of Restaurant Operations.

“Over time crew members have gotten very creative incorporating costumes, dances, and songs bringing excitement and happiness to guests,” she said in an email. “We love that there is an opportunity for each of them to make it their own and bring out their personalities.”

Washy Washy also helps the cruise line promote good hand hygiene. “The health and well-being of our guests, and the overall guest experience, are top priorities for Royal Caribbean,” Burns added. “Washing hands before dining is an important step to staying healthy, and this unique approach of integrating entertainment reminding guests to do so has made it more effective.”

USA TODAY spoke with five crew members who play Washy Washy on the line’s newest ship, Icon of the Seas : Neilbert Mar Morilla Saluta, 34; Jay Arenas, 33; Argel Symbol, 36; Jester Javier, 30; and Aaljon Nogaliza, 30. The employees, who are all from the Philippines, answered questions via email about their typical days, their repertoires and more.

Question: What does a typical day as Washy Washy look like? What are your responsibilities in that role?

Answer: We welcome guests to the restaurant we are attending and encourage them to wash their hands before dining by taking popular tunes and creating new words to include “washy washy” or “wash your hands.” A typical day for some of us starts as early as 6 a.m. at the opening of breakfast and, for others, continues through to the end of dinner.

Our goal as Washy Washy is to make this important task something fun for guests of all ages. Hand washing is very important for health.

How do you come up with the funny takes on popular songs (like “Don't Cha,” for example)? What other songs have you put unique spins on?

We choose songs that are popular for all our different guests – little kids, older kids and the adults; all the ages. Then, with each song, we find how to sprinkle in the important reminder to “wash, wash your hands” before coming in to eat with your family. This way, everybody has music that is familiar and catches their attention – we do songs in Spanish, too. The best is the smiles and dancing at the washy washy station.

We have so many favorite songs and all different types because our guests come from all different places, they are all ages and we like to have something for everyone, from kiddie music to popular songs today and from many years ago. Some songs we do washy, washy versions of are “Mamma Mia” and “Dancing Queen” by ABBA; “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins; classic family songs like “Hokey Pokey” and “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People; and we do “La Bamba” in Spanish, “para lavarse las manos, para lavarse las manos…”.

The five of us who are part of Washy Washy make up lyrics on our own, we do it together, whenever we have ideas. Many times, lyric changes happen and new lyrics happen when we are performing because of reactions we see. We like to do music that matches the season; for December, for example, we sing Washy Washy holiday songs.

What is the response from Icon guests to Washy Washy?

They absolutely love it! And we love it! Washy Washy has been part of Royal Caribbean for a long time. It is different across the ships because the Washy Washy teams are all different – some crew members play an instrument, sometimes it’s about funny accessories – but most important is that we are friendly and happy, and we remind people to wash their hands. Because Icon is the best family vacation with lots of “wows,” we wanted Washy Washy to be a “wow,” like Icon. 

Before Icon, vacationers were surprised when they encountered Washy Washy. Now guests come find us because of all the beautiful videos guests put on social media.

People really like the Washy Washy teams because it’s unexpected – happy, jolly songs that make you dance while washing your hands – most important is for everyone to wash hands. No one thinks they’re going to find us there singing and dancing about washing hands – and people can’t help but smile. We see guests of all ages, but especially kids, singing and dancing along. Sometimes they even request us to repeat songs they’ve already heard us sing or ask for an autograph!  We feel so special!

Do you have any favorite memories from interacting with guests as Washy Washy?

Interacting with kids and seeing their faces light up is priceless. Recently, there was a little girl who came into Windjammer with her parents, crying, and when she saw our Washy Washy performance, her mood totally shifted – she turned that frown upside down!

We also love it when guests recognize us in other venues around the ship, on Perfect Day at CocoCay when we are not wearing costumes, or even on different Royal Caribbean ships. This is extra special because we know we’re helping people make memories with us, and that’s what this is all about! We form bonds with guests and love making them happy. We’re always sad when they leave at the end of their vacation.

Short vs. long cruises: Here's how they compare

What do you hope guests take away from their interactions with Washy Washy?

We want to inspire our guests to have fun and enjoy every part of their vacation, even things like washing their hands. That’s why we created Washy Washy, and we are most happy when people smile and dance with us. We hope to be a lasting part of their Icon memory and that they’ll still be singing our catchy tunes when they go home.

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

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Live updates, trump, biden tied in deep-blue virginia, shocking poll shows.

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President Biden and former President Donald Trump are dead even in the state of Virginia , which hasn’t backed a Republican for the White House in two decades, according to a stunning survey released Wednesday.

Trump, 77, and Biden, 81, each receive 42% support from likely voters in the commonwealth, according to the head-to-head poll from Roanoke College’s Institute for Policy and Opinion Research.

Another 14% said they would vote for other candidates and the remaining 2% said they were undecided.

When three other third-party candidates were polled, Biden edged ahead of Trump by 40% to 38%. Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received 8% support, Green Party leader Jill Stein received 3%, and independent Cornel West received 1% support.

Another 8% said they would vote for “other” candidates in the five-way matchup and 2% said they were undecided.

Virginia is widely seen to be a safe state for Biden and has been sparsely polled as a result. Previous Roanoke College polls from February and December 2023 showed Biden narrowly ahead of Trump in a state the Democrat won by 10 percentage points four years ago.

Between 1952 and 2004, Virginia voters backed the Republican nominee in every presidential election but one — 1964, when Democrat Lyndon Johnson defeated Republican Barry Goldwater in a landslide.

Since Barack Obama’s election in 2008, however, no GOP nominee has taken the commonwealth’s 13 electoral votes, with Mitt Romney coming closest to putting Virginia in the Republican column in 2012.

However, Trump’s team has repeatedly stressed it sees Virginia as “in play” for November, pointing to poll numbers showing a statistical tie or Biden narrowly ahead.

While the 45th president lost Virginia by double digits four years ago, he came within 5.3 percentage points of shocking Hillary Clinton in 2016.

“These results suggest that Virginia could be ‘in play’ in November,” agreed Dr. Harry Wilson, senior political analyst for IPOR and professor emeritus of political science at Roanoke College.

“But five months is an eternity in politics. This tie or two-point lead seems dramatic, but they are within the margin of error of the results of the February 2024 and November 2023 Roanoke College Polls. Still, it seems that Trump is narrowing Biden’s lead, which has all but disappeared.”  

As in most other polls, the economy was rated as the No. 1 issue for voters (44%), with immigration coming in second at 14% and abortion third at 13%.

The survey also showed that the race is still very volatile, with only 64% of respondents saying they are very certain of their choice, while 28% say they are somewhat certain.

The Roanoke College poll was conducted May 12-21 among 711 Virginia residents. The survey has a margin of error of 4.24%.

Meanwhile, an Economist/ YouGov poll released Wednesday showed Trump narrowly leading Biden in a five-way national survey.

Trump came in at 41% support and Biden got 40% support, while Kennedy got 4% and Stein and West got 1% each.

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