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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.

• South Carolina
• Cruise Ship

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 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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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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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.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

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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• Transportation

'This ship is going to capsize:' CCU professor recalls choppy Carnival Cruise

by Courtney Rowles

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WPDE) — A Horry County resident was aboard the Carnival Sunshine during Memorial Day weekend when the ship sailed through a severe storm.

Videos from the ship have since gone viral of waves that thrashed the side of the ship.

The vessel was constantly rocking and appeared to suffer flooding on the lower decks.

TOP STORY: Officer drove 128mph, lost sight of suspect vehicle in deadly chase near Longs: Report

Sharon Tutrone, who is a professor at Coastal Carolina University, said she went about 12 hours without an update from the captain or crew with no wi-fi or cellphone service to know what was going on.

"I grabbed hold of the bed, and I said in my head, I said 'oh my God this ship is going to capsize,'" said Tutrone.

She said at moments, she wasn't sure she was going to make it.

"When that wave hit, that had to be a 20 to 25-foot wave that hit us. I will never forget that crushing sound, it was like it just slammed into the ship and that wave just shattered a glass building, that's what it sounded like, it was just glass breaking, and I thought the front end of the ship was taken off," she recalled.

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Trutrone compared the frightening experience to her cancer diagnosis and recovery.

"I just recently beat breast cancer, and I thought going through that was scary, and I felt anxiety with that, but never to the level that I felt on this trip. I mean I was on pins and needles, my heart was in my mouth that whole time," she explained.

Despite the horrifying experience, Tutrone said she is not going to let it ruin her love of cruises. She plans to be back on one again soon, just not with Carnival.

A representative from Carnival said in a statement:

"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."

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Carnival cruise ship battered by waves in storm off Charleston

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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Carnival Cruise passengers return to totaled cars after coastal storm

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Dozens of Carnival Cruise passengers returned to their parked cars totaled on Monday after the devastating coastal storm hit the Lowcountry last Sunday.

Passengers from North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia returned to their cars on Monday completely damaged from inches of saltwater soaking into their engines.

Two of those passengers, Stephanie and Wesley Royal, traveled to Charleston from Brevard, North Carolina for a five-day cruise before the holidays.

They say the entire trip was filled with rough seas from the storm, making them excited to be back on dry land.

When getting back to the Carnival parking lot on Monday, they faced a situation they say was unlike anything they had ever seen before.

“We got to the cars, and honestly, we’ve never seen anything like it,” Stephanie says. “Everybody had their hoods up, it was crazy. The folks parked next to us had informed us that the cars had flooded and that the engines were history, and nobody’s car was starting.”

“We weren’t really sure what was going on. When I checked my car, it was flooded, the water had come up at least three to four feet,” she says.

Dozens of passengers’ cars were completely totaled from inches of saltwater getting inside of their cars, stranding the Royals for hours with little to no answers.

“When we got back to the parking lot, and found this, we were basically stuck,” Stephanie adds. “Nobody really knew what to do, and both of our phones had very little charge on them.”

Eventually, the Royals rented a car to travel back home to North Carolina, leaving their totaled car in Charleston. But they say the financial burden wasn’t the hardest part of the situation, it was the stress and lack of communication.

“By the time we got back to the port to pick up our belongings, there were people still stranded there and that was almost 6:00 in the evening,” Stephanie says. “Some folks were still waiting on their insurance company to get hold of them or were still waiting to get their cars towed.”

Many of the passengers were not from the area and did not know about the flooding that occurs in downtown Charleston. The Royals also explained that they could not receive current news while out at sea.

“It would have been nice if they had informed us that this had occurred, and if they had some assistance out there,” Wesley says. “Assistance would have been more appreciated by me and my wife, and other people to guide us on what to do because we don’t live in Charleston. We’re out of town.”

Carnival Cruise Line’s Public Relations said the following about the situation:

We regret that some of our guests’ vehicles parked in the garage were impacted by the recent storm. We have let officials know that people were unhappy, and we suggest you contact the parking authorities. We assisted in some ways where we could, for instance with helping guests connect with their insurance providers, but ultimately this was not our facility.

S.C. Ports Authority also provided a statement regarding Monday’s events:

The recent record high tide and unprecedented flooding that occurred throughout downtown Charleston resulted in some cruise passenger vehicles being impacted. The South Carolina Ports team worked closely with passengers to provide assistance from the moment they arrived until the last passenger departed the terminal. Port police ensured passengers had the necessary reports to document damage for their insurance companies. Passengers were not charged for additional days to use the parking lot and are able to leave their vehicles as long as necessary. Port staff worked around the clock to call tow companies on behalf of passengers, assist with jumping vehicles and pumping out water, and helping them find transportation to area hotels. While SC Ports does not assume liability for vehicles or personal property left in the passenger parking areas, we are committed to continuing to support our valued cruise customers.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

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Terrifying video shows a storm flooding decks and hallways of a Carnival Sunshine cruise ship leaving passengers seasick

• Terrifying videos show a coastal storm flooded the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship over the weekend. 
• Passengers told WCIV about "horrific" conditions and not hearing updates from crew for over 12 hours.
• Carnival Cruise Line said the storm delayed the ship's arrival to Charleston. 

It's a cruise ship passenger's worst nightmare: Rough coastal storms hit the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship over the weekend, flooding some decks of the vessel and delaying its return to port. 

According to Fox Weather , a powerful storm off the southeastern coast of the US hit the Sunshine as it returned from a Memorial Day weekend trip to the Bahamas. The large waves, heavy rain, and strong winds rocked the ship, leaving some passengers sick and terrified.

Related stories

One video shared online showed heavy damage along some of the decks of the ship. Hallways were flooded and debris was strewn about everywhere. 

—Crew Center (@CrewCenter) May 28, 2023

One passenger posted a video of the interior of a cabin as the storm pounded the ship, adding that guests had been evacuated from one of the bars after over 30 liquor bottles fell off the bar and broke. 

—FlyersCaptain™®© (@flyerscaptain) May 29, 2023

Some Carnival Sunshine guests reported feeling sick during the storm, according to WCIV-TV . Others, including passengers Christa Seifert-alicea and Daniel Taylor, told WCIV-TV that they didn't receive communication or updates on the storm from the Sunshine's crew for over 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," Seifert-alicea told WCIV-TV.

One video posted on Twitter showed the aftermath of the storm on Sunday morning.

Carnival Cruise Line told Insider in a statement that the ship'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," the statement read. 

• Main content

Passengers aboard Carnival Sunshine describe 'nightmare' sailing into Charleston in storm

by Sydaija Smalls

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Many people vacation during the holidays, but bad weather conditions can drastically change the experience.

That's what happened to some onboard Carnival Sunshine in Charleston this week.

Several people who cruised on the ship shared on Facebook photos and videos of "horrific" conditions they endured on what was supposed to be a peaceful holiday vacation.

For one couple, the start of their engagement and first-ever cruise was described as a nightmare.

RJ Whited’s new fiancé, Tracy, got very sick and they had to stay in their room at the start of the cruise.

Read More: Carnival Cruise Line: Passenger appears to have died from medical condition

After Tracy passed out three times and caught a fever, they were advised to quarantine.

She started feeling better but then the ship got caught in a storm on its way back to Charleston.

“It was shaking us so violently,” Whited said.

Carnival cruisers said they were confused after several hours of no communication from crew members.

Passenger Christa Seifert-alicea said they didn't receive communication for over 12 hours. To be in the middle of the ocean, in the middle of the night, with no information was the worst part, she said.

"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," she said.

Another passenger, Daniel Taylor, said the crew left them blindsided.

Read More: Homeport contract between Carnival, SC Ports ending in 2024

"They’re not reassuring us, not telling us what was going on, they could've updated us and let us know something," he said.

Water damage and broken glass was left in the hallways and rooms.

A representative from Carnival responded to a request for comment from News 4 with the following statement, in full:

"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."

He said Carnival Sunshine is now sailing on a five-day Bahamas cruise and will return to Charleston on Thursday.

• Cruise News

Carnival Updates on Hurricane Ian for Multiple Ships

Sarah Bretz, Contributor

• September 29, 2022

Carnival Cruise Line has provided an update on itinerary changes and cancellations for multiple ships sailing in the Caribbean region, as its Fleet Operations team in Miami continues to monitor Hurricane Ian.

Port Tampa Bay, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville’s JAXPORT, and the Port of Charleston are closed. As a result, the following voyages have been canceled: the four-day Carnival Paradise voyage scheduled to depart Tampa on September 29th, the September 29th four-day cruise on Carnival Elation from Jacksonville, and the three-day Carnival Liberty cruise from Port Canaveral scheduled for September 30th.

Booked guests will receive a full refund plus a 25 percent future cruise credit.

As well, itineraries have been adjusted for the following sailings:

Carnival Sunrise

Sunrise is currently operating a four-night itinerary out of Miami that departing on September 24th. The voyage did not stop at Bimini on Wednesday, September 28th as planned. Instead, the vessel spent the day at sea and returned to Miami on Thursday.

Carnival Liberty

Carnival Liberty ‘s current four-night itinerary that departed Port Canaveral on Monday did not stop in Princess Cays in Wednesday. The ship remained at sea and is now en route to Port Canaveral. It will dock once the port reopens.

Carnival Horizon

Horizon is currently operating a six-night itinerary from Miami that departed Saturday, September 25th. It did not stop in Grand Cayman on Wednesday, and visited Cozumel on Thursday. The vessel is now scheduled to return to PortMiami on Saturday, October 1st.

Carnival Paradise

Paradise is currently operating a five-night cruise from Tampa. The ship extended a visit to Cozumel overnight and departed on Wednesday. The ship is headed back towards Tampa but will remain at sea until Port Tampa Bay reopens.

MORE: Disney Cruise Line Dropping Vaccine Mandate For All Passengers

Carnival Elation

Carnival Elation is currently on a five-night sailing from Jacksonville, and replaced a scheduled call to Princess Cays with a sea day. The vessel visited Freeport, Bahamas on September 28th instead of having a scheduled sea day. It will remain at sea until JAXPORT reopens.

Carnival Ecstasy

Ecstasy departed Mobile, Alabama on September 26th on five-night cruise, visiting Progreso on Wednesday. The ship was in Cozumel on Thursday. These are the same ports as the original itinerary, but reordered; initially the itinerary was set for a visit to Cozumel before Progreso.

Carnival Glory

Carnival Glory departed New Orleans on Sunday, September 25th for a seven-night cruise. Instead of visiting Key West and two ports in the Bahamas, the ship is now stopping in Roatán, Belize, and Cozumel.

Carnival Sunshine

The Port of Charleston is closed, with hopes that it will reopen on Sunday. The scheduled five-day October 1st sailing is now planned to be a four-day cruise departing October 2nd. Guests will receive a one day pro-rated cruise fare refund and $50 per person in onboard credit (up to $100 per cabin). Those who decide not to travel will receive a full refund.

READ NEXT: Hurricane Ian Changes Multiple Caribbean Cruise Itineraries

This article was originally published on Tuesday, September 27th. It was republished on Thursday, September 29th and updated again on September 30th.

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• International

Hurricane Dorian threatens the US

By Fernando Alfonso III, Mike Hayes, Meg Wagner and Rob Picheta, CNN

Dorian impacts numerous Carnival Cruise Line trips

Carnival Cruise Line has adjusted the itineraries for numerous ships leaving out of Jacksonville, Charleston and Port Canaveral in preparation for Hurricane Dorian.

Check out the full list of trips impacted by the storm, according to a news release from Carnival:

CHARLESTON    

Carnival Sunshine, Sept. 2, 2019:   The boat will depart today at 6 p.m. to accommodate arriving guests impacted by traffic diversions and closures.  The call to Half Moon Cay has been canceled.  

Given the circumstances, guests can disregard arrival appointments. Everyone must be on board by 5 p.m.

JACKSONVILLE

Carnival Ecstasy, Sept. 5, 2019:  Still evaluating. Sign up for text alerts by texting CCL12 to CRUISE (278473). There is a possibility Carnival Ecstasy will not be able to return to Jacksonville on Thursday. If the port is closed, the ship will be in position to dock as soon as the authorities have reopened the port.

PORT CANAVERAL

Port Canaveral is closed to inbound traffic. Carnival is optimistic the port will reopen by Thursday. 

Carnival Liberty, Sept. 2, 2019:   This cruise is canceled . Guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased items. 

Carnival Elation, Sept. 2, 2019:   Will now operate as a two day sailing departing Thursday and returning Saturday. Port of call: To be determined.  Guests who sail will receive a pro-rated refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased beverage and Wi-Fi packages. Guests who wish to cancel will receive a 100% future cruise credit.

Carnival Horizon, Sept. 1, 2019: Port Miami is closed and expected to reopen no earlier than Wednesday.    

The company plans to operate a three-day cruise, departing on Wednesday and returning Saturday. The cruise will visit Nassau on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Guests who sail will receive a 50% prorated refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased beverage and Wi-Fi packages, and a full refund of any pre-purchased shore excursions. Additionally, guests will receive a 50% future cruise credit.

Carnival Victory, Sept. 2, 2019: Will now operate as a two-day sailing departing Wednesday and returning Friday. Port of call: Key West, Sept. 5.  Guests who sail will receive a pro-rated refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased beverage and Wi-Fi packages. Guests who wish to cancel will receive a 100% future cruise credit.  

Coast Guard crews are heading for the Bahamas

US Coast Guard crews are heading to the Bahamas in preparation for a rapid Dorian response, the USCG said in a press release.

The USCG members are traveling from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater in Florida by MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and staging on Andros Island.

Here's photos of the deployment happening today:

Delta is canceling all flights to Nassau today

Delta Airlines is canceling all flights to and from the Bahamas today due to increased crosswind speeds, according to Delta spokeswoman Lisa Hellerstedt. 

The airline canceled flights after one of their planes was unable to land in Nassau on Monday, Hellerstedt said. 

Here's the airline statement:

"Delta flight 337 returned to Atlanta out of abundance of caution when cross winds prevented the plane from landing in Nassau, Bahamas. All customers will be rebooked on flights tomorrow and Delta apologizes for the inconvenience."

Trump is golfing as Hurricane Dorian heads for US

From CNN's Allie Malloy

President Trump spent today visiting his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, and tweeting political grievances as a massive hurricane prepares to barrel up the East Coast.

Trump's visit to Trump National marks the 289th day he has spent at a Trump property and the 227th day he has spent at one of his golf clubs as President. 

He spoke to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis today. DeSantis, a Republican, said in a news conference that the President is "fully engaged" with federal, state and local officials. 

Price gouging allegations grow in Florida and Georgia

From CNN's Rosa Flores

The number of alleged price gouging "contacts" due to Hurricane Dorian has grown to 2,100 in Florida and Georgia, according to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.

Moody provided this information in a video . She calls these people and businesses "bad actors."

Price gouging “contacts" include phone calls or tips made to the agency’s app or online systems. The illegal practice of price gouging involves increasing the prices of necessary items like food, water and hotel rooms during any natural disaster. 

Inside a flooded home in Grand Bahama

Michael Pintard, minister for agriculture in the Bahamas, shared a video showing the rising waters outside his home and damage done inside during Hurricane Dorian.

In the video, Pintard estimates that sea levels have risen at least 15 feet to reach a level above the windows of his home.

"This is what I’m facing at the moment, and I have neighbors that are in a far worse position than me and my family," he said.

Watch the video:

More than 1,000 flights canceled around the US as Dorian approaches

From CNN's Greg Wallace

While Hurricane Dorian has yet to make landfall in the US, that hasn't stopped the Category 4 storm from forcing major airlines to cancel or delay hundreds of flights today.

So far, 744 flights within, into or out of the US have been delayed while 1,138 flights have been canceled, according to data from the aviation tracking website FlightAware. It is unclear how many of these delays and cancellations were directly related to Dorian.

Here's a breakdown of the delays and cancellations by some of the largest US airlines:

• American  has canceled 113 flights. 
• Southwest  has canceled 148 flights. 
• Delta  has canceled 52. 
• United  has canceled 33. 

How Dorian is affecting other airlines:

• Spirit Airlines , which has a large number of flights into and out of Fort Lauderdale, has canceled 37% of its schedule. The 268 flights canceled by Spirit are more flights than any other airline has canceled today.   
• JetBlue , with two of its six “focus cities” in Florida — serving the U.S. and Caribbean destinations — has canceled 201 flights, or 18% of its schedule. 
• Frontier , which says it offers direct flights out of Orlando to more cities than any other carrier, has canceled 94 flights, or 21% of its schedule. 
• Allegiant , which has a heavy schedule out of Orlando, has canceled 88 flights, 24% of its schedule. 

Read more about how Hurricane Dorian is impacting travel around the US here .  

Dorian expected to get "dangerously" close to Florida tonight

While Hurricane Dorian creeps along at 1 mph, the storm is expected to get "dangerously" close to the US tonight, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The Category 4 storm is moving in a westward to west-northwestward motion, which should be followed by a gradual turn toward the northwest and north, the center said in its 11 a.m. ET advisory .

On this track, the core of extremely dangerous Hurricane Dorian will continue to pound Grand Bahama Island through much of today and tonight. The hurricane will then move dangerously close to the Florida east coast late tonight through Wednesday evening and then move dangerously close to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts on Wednesday night and Thursday.

This is what it looks like inside the eye of Dorian

The US Air Force Hurricane Hunters have captured footage from inside the eye of the storm using a reconnaissance plane.

The plane flew through Dorian to gather data to determine the storm’s intensity and path.

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• Cruise From

Charleston, SC

• Carnival Sunshine

* Coming Soon

Cruises out of Charleston are a great idea for foodies and anyone who loves American history. Give in to the genteel feel of the old South on Carnival cruises from the beautiful port of Charleston, South Carolina. This is a gracious city of antebellum 18th- and 19th-century houses and sprawling plantations, easy to appreciate from the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage. The city’s unique Lowcountry cuisine and dozens of delicious restaurants make it a popular southern foodie destination. Enjoy warm southern hospitality and a breezy waterfront as you prepare to depart on your cruise from Charleston.

• Set foot where English settlers first touched land.
• Buy a sweetgrass basket to use aboard your Carnival cruise from Charleston.
• Tuck into Lowcountry-style shrimp and grits at a downtown restaurant. 
• Hop on a horse-drawn carriage for a slow-paced tour of the Historic District.

See it all from Charleston.

* Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional per person.

Carnival Freedom cruise ship catches fire near Bahamas

TAMPA, Fla. ( WFLA ) — A Carnival Cruise ship’s funnel caught on fire during their voyage near the Bahamas on Saturday.

Carnival said that at 3:15 p.m., the Carnival Freedom reported a fire on the port side from the ship’s exhaust funnel.

In a statement from Carnival, the team said, “The ship’s fire response team was quickly activated, and the ship’s captain also turned the vessel towards the heavy rain in the area to maximize the efforts to put out the flames. Eyewitnesses reported the possibility of a lightning strike and that is being investigated but cannot yet be confirmed.”

A portion of the funnel on the port side fell onto Deck 10.

Crews were able to extinguish the fire at 5:20 p.m. All aboard were asked to stay away from balconies and open decks for their safety.

Two crew members fighting the fire were treat for minor smoke inhalation, according to Carnival. As of this report, there are no reported injuries for guests.

The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted and has activated their response team. The cruise is expected to continue sailing to Freeport and arrive on Sunday morning.

The ship was around 20 miles from Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, heading to Freeport. The ship departed from Port Canaveral on Thursday for a four-day trip.

On May 26, 2022, the same ship caught on fire while docked in Grand Turk . The inside of the Freedom’s funnel erupted in smoke and flames. The trip that was scheduled following the voyage had to be canceled.

The cruise does not expect the fire to impact the next voyage scheduled for Monday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.

Travel | Port Canaveral chalks up record month amid…

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Subscriber only, travel | port canaveral chalks up record month amid growing cruise demand.

Port Canaveral saw just under 800,000 cruise passengers move on and off its ships in March as part of a record year that keeps topping expectations.

That set a one-month record for the port with an average of nearly 25,600 people a day around 93 cruise ship calls. March is traditionally one of the strongest months of the year for the port with its spring break traffic.

It also marked the halfway point of the fiscal year that began in October 2023. Six months in, the port has seen 3.9 million passenger movements from 479 ship calls.

“The industry itself is very, very strong right now,” said Port CEO Capt. John Murray at the port commission meeting on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of expansion plans. The companies are starting to reorder ships again after the pandemic.”

NCL details new dining on Canaveral-bound Norwegian Aqua

That includes more ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, which has been sending its new vessels to Port Canaveral as they debut including next year’s Norwegian Aqua.

“So a lot of great things, a lot of great things, a lot of enthusiasm and I can say that the industry is 110% of what it was prior to the pandemic,” Murray said. “They are back and booming right now. So we’re fortunate to be taking advantage of that here at the port.”

Operating revenue for the year is already at $98 million, which is $3.6 million above budget. It also means the record projection of $187 million in operating revenue through the end of the fiscal year in September is likely to get surpassed as well.

Ship capacity is determined to be at 100% if each stateroom is occupied by two passengers, so ships sailing with families, for instance, will push capacity above 100% and in turn increase revenue for the port from the cruise lines as well as add to an uptick in parking charges.

Royal Caribbean to send massive Utopia of the Seas to Port Canaveral

One of the big drivers has been the addition of a second Oasis-class vessel by Royal Caribbean so that the port hosts two of the largest cruise ships in the world.

Allure of the Seas joined Wonder of the Seas last fall to begin short three- and four-night sailings to the Bahamas, and will continue that until the debut of Royal’s new Utopia of the Seas this summer. Since arriving, it has added more than 650,000 passenger movements to the port’s growing tally.

The port has been home port to 13 ships from Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian and MSC Cruises, and is set to welcome its first ships from both Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises this fall.

Port Canaveral plots timeline to take over marina for new cruise terminal

Right now it has six cruise terminals, but is beginning the work to eventually build a seventh later this decade. During an interview earlier in April at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami Beach, Murray said the key to growth for the port will be a shift in how the port gives access to each terminal, such as how it plans to operate its seventh terminal.

“It’s going to be multiuser. It’s not going to be a single-use facility. That’s going to be how our concept of operations would be going forward,” Murray said. “The only way you’re going to get good utilization of a terminal is if you can put multiple brands in there and not have it dedicated to just one user.”

That’s how it runs several of its terminals now including Disney Cruise Line at Cruise Terminal 8 and Carnival Cruise Line at its newest terminal, Cruise Terminal 3.

“If they’ve got seven days a week at one terminal and they’re only using three, maybe four days, that’s not high utilization,” Murray said. “Yet, it’s a facility that we’ve got blocked out that we’re not getting any benefit from it for the investment we’ve made.”

He notes Cruise Terminal 10, which gets used by three brands, gets used six days a week.

Murray said with newer and bigger ships on order from all the major lines, the demand is just going to continue to spike for parking space at Florida’s big three ports.

“I think the point now for all of the major brands is finding somewhere to operate,” Murray said. “Because there’s only Miami, [and] we all know how full Miami is; Everglades, [which has] limited capacity or opportunity for growth; and we have more land, but you know, it’s not all going to get committed to the cruise industry.”

“So the question is, how do we allow more opportunities for the cruise lines to operate? This is one — get high utilization out of the terminal.”

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