Carnival cruise passengers outraged after terrifying ordeal through storm

Table Of Content

• Coastal storm leaves Carnival passengers in distress as large waves pound cruise ship
• Which Carnival cruise ships will sail first?
• 'People shrieking in tears': Cruise passengers returned to flooded cars at port
• Carnival Team Honored for Life-Saving Rough Weather Rescue
• I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise

Cruise lines are continually striving to ensure that incidents like this are minimized, if not completely avoided, in the future. In the wake of the Carnival Sunshine Storm Incident, cruise lines across the industry have taken proactive steps to address safety concerns and reassure passengers of their commitment to their well-being. While the ship eventually made it back to port safely, the incident served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the open sea and the importance of robust safety measures. Over the weekend, the East Coast was pounded by severe weather, resulting in gale-force winds, heavy rains and flooding. By mid-day Sunday, Charleston received nearly four inches of rain and the tide gauge reached over nine feet. 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.

Coastal storm leaves Carnival passengers in distress as large waves pound cruise ship

"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," Seifert-alicea told WCIV-TV. He said this was his third time aboard Sunshine out of Charleston and his fourth with the cruise line. National Weather Service meteorologists were expecting waves upwards of 15 feet Friday, but some computer models indicated wave heights could reach 20 feet in the storm system. "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. "We were surrounded by lightning and the ship took a huge hit by a wave and sounded like it split in two," Tutrone tweeted.

Which Carnival cruise ships will sail first?

AFRAS has been awarding this type of recognition since approximately 2004, with the more formalized Cruise Ship Humanitarian Assistance Award beginning in 2017. The captain and crew of Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras have received a prestigious award for a rescue ahead of a tropical storm in 2022. Carnival suggested passengers contact the proper parking authorities while making clear the parking lot was not a company facility. “We assisted in some ways where we could, for instance with helping guests connect with their insurance providers” the cruise line added.

'People shrieking in tears': Cruise passengers returned to flooded cars at port

Carnival Vista departed the Port of Galveston in Texas Saturday afternoon for a weeklong cruise with stops in Mahogany Bay, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico; and Belize City, Belize. It’s the first ship from the cruise line to sail from a U.S. port in more than 15 months. Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Corp.'s flagship line, is once again launching ships with paying passengers from U.S. ports.

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"It was only 45 minutes later that Captain Contarino came over the intercom system to let everyone know that due to adverse weather conditions, we may arrive later in port than scheduled," Taylor said. "He also advised that the staff would do everything they could to minimize any discomfort." 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." Carnival Cruise Line passengers must complete the final dose of their COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days ahead of sailing, according to the cruise line's website.

Several individuals aboard the ship took to social media to share photos and videos of the ordeal, a number of which showed broken glass, doors knocked out of their frames, and water damage in certain corridors of the ship. The ship’s return from a the Bahamas had been delayed by the storm, but the dark skies and rough seas remained when the ship approached the port of Charleston. 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." Passenger Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University, tweeted Friday that the ship was rocking.

I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise

The captain was expecting rougher weather that evening, but there was nothing to worry about. 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. 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." To bypass test cruises and move straight into sailings with paying passengers, 95% of passengers and 95% of crew must be vaccinated, according to the CDC.

The Importance of Safety Culture: Embedding Safety as a Core Value

As one of the first groups to arrive at the parking lot, Herold found her new car – which had less than 10,000 miles – with its airbag deployed, four inches of water in the car and the doors unlocked. “It was pretty upsetting and very overwhelming,” Kit Herold, a passenger who was onboard with her two teenage daughters, told USA TODAY. 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. Poor weather did continue past that point and all aboard were urged to use caution when moving about the ship.

Another important aspect of continuous improvement is the analysis of near-miss incidents and accidents. By examining the root causes and underlying factors, cruise lines can identify trends and patterns that may indicate systemic issues. It is imperative for cruise lines to prioritize the well-being of their guests and constantly strive for innovation and improvement in all aspects of ship operations. From reinforced hulls to stabilizers that counteract the motion of the ship, various measures are taken to enhance the ship’s stability and safety.

Carnival Magic cruise ship damaged during storm; cruisers left in Jamaica for hours - FOX 35 Orlando

Carnival Magic cruise ship damaged during storm; cruisers left in Jamaica for hours.

Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

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. 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. Carnival Horizon will sail from Miami, and Carnival Vista and Breeze will sail from Galveston, according to the statement.

– A coastal storm generated a lot of drama on the high seas over the weekend for passengers aboard a Carnival cruise ship. Following the Carnival Sunshine storm incident of 2023, it has become imperative for the cruise industry to reevaluate and strengthen its approach to safety. Embracing a safety culture and continuous improvement is crucial in ensuring the well-being of passengers and crew members.

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. With a Masters in Tourism and Hospitality, Jennifer is passionate about responsible and meaningful travel that fosters cultural exchange. Whether trekking through the Atlas Mountains, sailing to Komodo National Park, or taking an overnight train across Eastern Europe - she is always seeking her next epic destination. The findings from these audits should be used as a basis for implementing corrective actions and enhancing safety protocols. Cruise lines have also increased their collaboration with meteorological agencies to receive real-time weather updates and make informed decisions regarding itinerary changes or ship rerouting. Despite the challenging circumstances, many passengers also shared stories of camaraderie and support among fellow travelers, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of adversity.

Water damage and broken glass were left in the hallways and rooms following the storm. She tweeted again on Saturday afternoon, describing "14 hours of high winds, rain and massive waves." Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement last month that the company chose to operate with vaccinated guests during July in U.S. waters because of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention constraints.