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Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship Sails into East Coast Storm, Creating Injuries & Damage On-Board

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The Carnival Sunshine traveled through a storm off the southeast coast of the U.S., even as various weather agencies warned ships to stay away from the intensifying storm. Image: Carnival Cruise Line
The Carnival Sunshine traveled through a storm off the southeast coast of the U.S., even as various weather agencies warned ships to stay away from the intensifying storm. Image: Carnival Cruise Line



While meteorologists including those at the National Hurricane Center were busy tracking a developing coastal storm off the southeast coast for many days, Carnival Cruise Line made the decision to sail right into it, creating extensive damage and some injuries to passengers and crew on-board. The Carnival Sunshine, which was previously named the Carnival Destiny, has a maximum capacity of 2,642 passengers and 1,150 crew; it entered and apparently remained in stormy weather while storm advisories were posted for the region. The ship had been sailing to Nassau, Bimini, and Half Moon Cay around the Bahamas.

Passenger Reid Overcash posted on Facebook, “I believe the Carnival SunShine Ship is in trouble. The ship is stop and We are sitting ducks with huge waves and 50 up to 70 knots of wind. Somewhere off the coast of GA-FL. Lock down in our rooms. Pray 🙏” He later added, “Piss and scared, the ship is still stop. No communications from Captain or staff. TV is out with message “Public announcement please standby:” The winds are hurricane Gail force and ship is leaning to the left. I believe the Captain was trying to our run the storm. Bad decision. I’m sure we will be breaking news tomorrow!”

Sharon Tutrone wrote on Twitter, “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 ship was originally destined for Charleston for Saturday, but due to the storm, its arrival and the start of the subsequent cruise to the Bahamas was delayed  today.


Pictures and video being shared online show destroyed crew cabins, flooded corridors, water leaking into passenger cabins, and extensive damage to multiple decks on the 12-deck cruise ship.




Carnival Cruise Line released a statement to reporters that said, “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 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 of our guests.”

Rough weather will sometimes interfere with cruise ships and their travel plans. In February, a tropical cyclone forced Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruises to detour many sailings in the south Pacific. In December, a rogue wave hit a cruise ship and flooded some cabins, killing and injuring passengers on-board. A coastal storm last May along the east coast also roughed-up those onboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas; waves from that storm crashed up onto the 5th deck of that large cruise ship as it sailed off the Jersey Shore.