


Passengers aboard a Carnival cruise ship encountered “horrific” conditions as the ship nearly flooded this weekend due to a massive storm battering the coast of South Carolina.
Videos shared online by passengers showdc flooded hallways littered with glass and other debris, doors ripped off their hinges and downed pipes laying soaked on the floor of the Carnival Sunshine as water rushed by.
The vessel was headed back to Charleston following a week-long trip in the Bahamas when poor weather conditions caused the trip to take a turn for the worse for many passengers and crew members.
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.
Passengers also whined that they didn’t hear from the ship’s captain or any crew members for hours — even as the ship was shaking “so violently,” Passenger RJ Whited told ABC News 4.
Whited and his new fiancé, Tracy, were aboard the ship celebrating their engagement, but the couple says they were unable to enjoy any of the ship’s amenities, including its restaurants.
Other passengers took issue with the lack of communication from the ship’s leaders during the powerful storm.
“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 told News 4: “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 our guests.”
The spokesperson said Carnival Sunshine is now sailing on a five-day Bahamas cruise and will return to Charleston on Thursday.