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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 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.

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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 .

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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.

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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 cruise ship rocked by rough seas, severe weather, shaking some passengers

Carnival says stormy weather delayed cruise ship sunshine's return from the bahamas to charleston, south carolina.

Carnival Sunshine navigates rough seas from Bahamas to South Carolina

The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship sailed through rough seas May 27 on a return trip from the Bahamas to Charleston, South Carolina. (Brad Morrell via Storyful)

Passengers aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship experienced a rough return to port in South Carolina as stormy weather brought heavy seas to the region.

Videos posted to social media showed high waves and large white caps rocking the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine as it returned to port in Charleston, South Carolina. 

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.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES HAS RECORD FUTURE BOOKINGS, DEMAND REBOUNDS

The Carnival Sunshine cruise ship sailed through rough seas May 27 while returning from the Bahamas to Charleston, South Carolina. (Brad Morrell via Storyful / Fox News)

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.

A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line provided the following statement to FOX Business on Monday regarding the incident: 

"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. Carnival Sunshine is now sailing on its next cruise."

MAN’S BODY STORED IN DRINK COOLER AFTER HE DIES ON CELEBRITY CRUISE: LAWSUIT

Carnival added in a statement to FOX Weather , "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."

The Carnival Destiny is docked at the Black Falcon Terminal in Boston, May 23, 2000. The Destiny was renamed Sunshine in 2013. (Boston Herald/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Two ladies take pictures in front of the Carnival cruise ship Elation in Nassau, Bahamas on April 29, 2019.  (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

FOX Weather reported that the low-pressure system responsible for the stormy weather in the mid-Atlantic region has now moved inland over North Carolina and will gradually weaken — but not until it dampens plans for holiday beachgoers in the area.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

FOX Weather’s Brian Donegan contributed to this report.

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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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Heavy Rain Expected in Florida This Week. Will it Impact Cruises?

Update (June 12, 6:15 Central): Since this article was published, heavy rains have hit southern Florida — including Miami and Fort Lauderdale — especially hard. Flooding is occurring and the mayor of Fort Lauderdale has also issued a state of emergency . Numerous flights to the area have been delayed or cancelled.

If there is good news regarding cruises, both Miami and Fort Lauderdale have few ships scheduled today and tomorrow, giving time for rain to leave the area. Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale has no ships scheduled until June 14. Miami has Valiant Lady (Virgin Voyages) leaving today, but no other ships until June 14 as well.

As always, your cruise line will be in touch if there are any updates to your cruise schedule. 

Original Article:

The cruise capital of the United States will need an umbrella for the coming week. As the tropical weather season ramps up, Florida looks to start off with a soggy forecast, with predictions of more than a foot of rain in some areas over the next week.

So will this impact cruises?

Areas With Up to 15+ Inches of Rain in Florida?

First things first, take a look at the rainfall predictions the state is seeing. Practically the entire state is set to receive significant rainfall over the coming seven days according to the National Weather Service.

Their current 7-day precipitation map shows the southern half of the state — where most of the state’s cruise ports are located — with between 3-5 inches of rain. In fact, the entire Gulf of Mexico looks to see heavy rainfall, whether sailing from Galveston, New Orleans, Tampa, or Miami.

For Florida, that’s not completely out of the ordinary. But there are some spots (the light brown and yellow colors) on the map that indicate the potential for 7-10 inches of rain. Some isolated spots even show the potential of 15 inches of rain in the Fort Myers area.

Beyond that, heavy projected rainfall in the gulf and even over to The Bahamas means that cruise passengers going practically anywhere over the next week should be ready for rain.

In fact, these areas have already seen rounds of storms, with some areas near Tampa seeing flooding and a flood watch in effect for many areas . In fact, some flights from Miami International have been delayed or canceled due to weather.

Will your cruise be impacted?

Impact on Cruise Schedules Likely Limited

Historically, cruises are rarely completely canceled due to weather or other circumstances.

For instance, when the Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed recently and closed the port, ships were adjusted to dock in Norfolk and passengers were bussed back to Baltimore .

During hurricanes, trips may be delayed if the storm hits the homeport when a ship is due and itineraries may be adjusted to avoid storms in ports of call during a trip.

But the impact of adjusting a cruise’s itinerary has wide-ranging effects from dock schedules to the travel arrangements of thousands of passengers to crew changes, supplies for the ship, and more. Hence, cruise lines try to avoid canceling a cruise or delaying unless it’s absolutely necessary.

In fact, we have heard of no changes from the cruise lines due to the forecasted rainfall. But if your cruise schedule is adjusted, the cruise line will be in contact with details.

On a question asking about cancellations on the Facebook page of Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald, he went as far as to tell the person with an upcoming trip that “I am sure your cruise will not [be] canceled.”

In our history of covering cruises, we can’t think of an instance when a cruise was canceled due only to heavy rainfall.

That said, these storms can still impact your travel.

Possible Delays With Passengers Getting to Port

Given the amount of rainfall, there could be issues with road flooding and airline delays.

If driving to the port, you definitely want to give yourself more time to get to the port, just in case the weather slows things down. If flying in, it’s a good idea to aim to fly in the day before the cruise. This should give you plenty of time to get to the ship if your flight is impacted by the weather. If your flight is already booked for the day of the cruise, you might see if you can adjust the schedule last minute.

We recently found out firsthand that weather can cause you to miss the ship , at which point your cruise fare is taken as a cancellation penalty.

Assuming you do make the cruise, be prepared for wet weather onboard. The projected rainfall looks heavy all across the region, which means your sunny cruise could see periods of heavy rain.

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Carnival Corp raises annual profit forecast again on steady cruise demand

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Carnival’s Weinstein: Starlink is a Game Changer

• June 28, 2024

Carnival Corporation is now using SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet on its entire fleet after completing the roll out across all ships in May.

According to the company’s president and CEO, Josh Weinstein, the service is a game-changer for the company’s onboard connectivity.

“We completed the rollout of Starlink this quarter, another revenue uplift opportunity and a real game-changer for our onboard connectivity experience, enabling us to deliver the same high-speed Wi-Fi service available on land throughout our fleet,” he said during the company’s second quarter earnings call.

“Not only does this technology provide our guests with more flexibility to stay connected, it enables our crew to stay in touch with friends and loved ones, and it enhances our onboard operational systems, a win-win-win,” he added.

Weinstein said that the enhanced connectivity is part of Carnival Corporation’s strategy for its onboard experience, which is leading the company to reinvest in bandwidth.

“We’re spending more on bandwidth than we ever have, and it’s generating outsized returns because people love the service. It’s land like and it’s something people are willing to pay for,” he explained.

“So, there’s examples up and down the P&L where we’re very happy to reinvest to drive the right behaviors to get the revenue that we’re looking for.”

Carnival Corporation began its fleetwide rollout of Starlink in December 2022 with Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises ships.

The company’s other brands, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises Australia, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises UK and Cunard, followed later.

According to the company, the Starlink service allows guests to use the high-speed, low-latency connectivity to stay connected while onboard, streaming content and working remotely.

Brands like Holland America Line announced a strong surge in guest satisfaction after the introduction of the service.

Seabourn also highlighted positive feedback about the service, which is also available in remote parts of the world onboard its two expedition ships.

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Carnival cruise ship rescues 25 people stranded off the coast of Mexico

A Carnival Cruise Line ship responded to a call from the U.S. Coast Guard and rescued 25 people stranded in a small boat off the coast of Mexico, the company announced Saturday.

The 2,984-passenger Carnival Radiance had left Long Beach, California, on Friday and was heading toward Ensenada Mexico for a three-day sailing when the cruise ship's officers were informed by the Coast Guard "about a distress call involving a small vessel," a news release said.

The ship immediately routed toward the location of the vessel, provided by the USCG, and "quickly" rescued all 25 people on board, including three children, the company said.

The U.S. Coast Guard did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

The rescued group was welcomed onto the cruise ship and given food, water, and medical assistance. Carnival coordinated with the Coast Guard to hand off the group.

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The incident did not disrupt the Carnival Radiance's schedule, the company announced.

A roller coaster in the ocean: What Carnival Cruise Line's BOLT ride is like

Another Carnival ship rescued a group of 28 Cuban nationals stuck at sea as it was sailing the Caribbean and saw people signaling for help in late April. The cruise ship was headed from Tampa, Florida, to Roatan in Honduras at the time. Also last month, a Celebrity Cruises ship sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to multiple destinations in the Caribbean rescued a small vessel adrift between Mexico and Cuba.

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected]

I tried to spend as little as possible on Carnival's newest cruise ship. I recommend shelling out for better food and more fun.

• I turned down almost all upcharged amenities during my four-day Carnival Firenze cruise .
• The new ship has more complimentary family-friendly activities than some of its competitor's latest vessels.
• But snubbing the up-charged food made for a less-than-amazing cruise.

Looking for a vacation that lets you ball on a budget? You'll certainly hit your "budget" requirement on Carnival's new Firenze ship — so long as you don't expect to truly ball out.

Cruises are an economical vacation option . After all, what other ticket includes unlimited food, a hotel room, activities, and the opportunity to see several destinations in one trip — all for less than $80 a day like Carnival is offering in 2024?

But if you're unwilling to spend more than the base fare, you could have a pretty different vacation experience from your peers who are ready to pay-to-play. At least, that's how I felt during my first Carnival cruise in mid-May on the new Firenze.

My stubborn stance against upcharged services resulted in a less-than-amazing experience.

Josh Weinstein, president and CEO of Carnival Corp, the cruise line's parent company, told investors in late June that the company wants to continue to be known as a "cost leader" in the industry.

Its new ship is a great example of this. Carnival says it's seeing strong demand from its US market. But instead of building a new vessel, the company acquired Firenze and its sister ship from Costa Cruises, another Carnival Corp brand, in 2022.

Besides WiFi, I refused to front for Firenze's up-charged activities and services.

I went on Carnival Firenze for work, which meant I had to cave on the ship's premium WiFi at $85 for all four nights.

Internet connectivity, specialty dining, and drinks packages are always extra on mass market ships . But over the last few years, cruise giants have added more irresistible pay-to-play amenities to their vessels, all while still luring travelers in with affordable base fares.

On Norwegian's newer ships , for example, this means paying $10 for a round of mini-golf or $29 for an hour at the VR arcade.

Not bad compared to Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas , where travelers have to pay $200 for the fanciest restaurant or $49 for a ropes course that could be completed in less than a minute.

To Carnival’s credit, Frienze had more complimentary family-friendly amenities than some of its competitors’ newer ships.

The mini-golf course wasn't nearly as flashy as Norwegian's. But mini-golf is mini-golf, no matter the number of bright lights and animated courses.

The same was true for Firenze's ropes course. While it didn't have the same thrilling floor drop as Icon of the Seas', the multi-part walkway was longer, more diverse, and, more importantly, free.

I much preferred it to the one on Icon.

Families could spend their afternoons shooting hoops, going on the waterslides, and competing over board games — all without spending a cent.

The arcade was one of the few activities that wasn't free. Then again, they rarely are.

But don't book Firenze if you're seeking a quiet, relaxing ship. I struggled to find a peaceful public space where I could churn out some work without being distracted by the loud music and guests.

The only truly quiet space could've been the spa. But again, I wasn't going to pay for a massage.

In the eveing, I passed the time by catching the nightly movies and attending the theater's shows.

Just know that the latter isn't a must-do. Some singers in the cheesy song-and-dance production "Dear Future Husband" were painfully off-key.

And if you want to munch on a bag of popcorn during the movie, you'll have to pay $4. Smelling the buttery snack without having one in my hands was a torturous tease.

Several of Firenze’s bars — like Piano Bar 88 — featured live musicians, too.

Moda Bar and Lounge also had singers, if you count karaoke night.

But if you want a drink to accompany the entertainment, you'll have to spend about $13 for cocktails and $9 for beers and seltzers.

So, late-night foosball it was — for four nights in a row. At least it was free.

Activities like live music and board games are almost always free on cruise ships.

But that doesn't exempt Carnival Firenze from the industry-wide push for more pay-to-play amenities . There's a reason the company saw a spike in onboard spending in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same time last year — despite rising ticket prices.

I doubt it's solely because of increased participation at Firenze's live "Deal or No Deal" game show, which starts at $25 to play. Or the $4 shuttle from the port at Ensenada, Mexico on day three to downtown (which I regret not paying for).

In retrospect, I wish I had fallen for Firenze's upcharged foods.

Norwegian and Royal Caribbean's newer ships had complimentary dining that was as good as, if not better, than the premium options. I still crave Norwegian Prima's free food hall .

I can't say the same for my no-fee dining experience on Firenze.

The ship had six specialty restaurants ranging from teppanyaki to steaks.

The cruiseliner has a kitschy Italian theme, as its name might suggest. But if I had wanted to continue the Italian tune with some shrimp scampi and burrata at the Il Viaggio restaurant, I would've had to drop more than $40.

So, instead, I had my nightly meals in the mediocre main dining room, which served the same dinner dishes as the buffet.

None of my Carnival Firenze dinners were stellar, and finding a piece of plastic in my pasta didn't help, either.

I always have juice with my breakfast at home.

But continuing my ritual on Firenze would've meant coughing up $5 per glass. It was tempting, especially as the main dining room server stopped by every table with a tray of the colorful concoctions.

For lunch, I bounced around options like the Guy Fieri-branded burger shack and the pizza, Italian-Mexican fusion, and Italian sandwich stands.

My no-spend requirement meant I had to snub the almost $40 teppanyaki lunch, $1.50-a-piece empanada, and $6 Korean barbecue steak pizza (the pizza stand had free and upcharged pies).

That meant none of my lunches were standouts. The burgers were too heavy (mine came with a slab of fried mozzarella), the salsa verde at the sandwich stand was inedible, and the buffet was forgettable.

Even worse, the chicken wings at the buffet cost extra. Oh, Carnival.

The only craveable lunch was at La Strada Grill, a tucked-away buffet with sandwiches and fresh vegetables.

It was the only light and fresh meal I had on the ship. I couldn't understand why it and another salad stand were closed until the last day of the cruise.

At that point, I had already grown tired of all the heavy foods.

But a quick pick-me-up at the coffee shop would have required me to break my no-spend rule, too.

The buffet had free coffee, Lipton, and Bigelow's green tea bags. But if you want something closer to your neighborhood coffee shop, the onboard café charges $4.50 for a latte and $4 for a doughnut.

I don't remember the last time I drank that much Lipton tea.

Activities like the afternoon 'Tea Time' also had a cost barrier.

Tea bags at the program were $1.50, unbeknownst to me until I was seated. After expressing disinterest in paying, I was later offered the buffet's teas.

Caffeine might be mandatory if you stay in the cheapest windowless cabin.

Like any mass-market cruise ship, the most affordable option was a windowless interior stateroom and letting Carnival assign me my cabin.

Traveling alone for work meant I had to eat the solo supplement . My interior cabin, booked fairly last minute, cost $735, including $64 in optional gratuities.

But in 2024, the cheapest itinerary starts shy of $360 per person, including taxes and fees, for the same four-night sailing — from Long Beach, California, to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico — as the one I went on.

Carnival put me in one of Firenze’s accessible, wheelchair-friendly rooms.

This meant the shower — a curtain surrounding floor drains — was one of the largest I've had at sea. And all the furniture came pushed against the wall, making the cabin feel spacious for someone without physical disabilities.

But where the stateroom excels in size, it fails in design.

It was one of the ugliest rooms I've ever stayed in. The furniture looked dated, the bathroom had almost no storage, and there were no bedside outlets.

That said, the starting price of $90 a day is hard to beat. At least it encouraged me to spend more time around the ship than inside my windowless dungeon.

Overall, my no-spend Carnival Firenze cruise was fine. Not amazing. Not life-changing. Just fine.

The surplus of complimentary onboard activities rivaled that of more expensive ships. But if my meals weren't lackluster, they were bad.

I'm sure I would have a different review if I had spent an additional $50 on the steakhouse or $100 on the chef's table . But the less-than-desirable complimentary food ultimately plagued my four nights at sea.

If you're considering cruising on Carnival Firenze , I'd recommend paying for at least one of the specialty restaurants. The money will be worth skipping the buffet and uninspiring dining room.

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