Terrifying Storm Floods Cruise Ship, Briefly Delays Next Voyage

A cruise ship sailing off the coast of South Carolina was stuck in a massive storm that tossed the vessel and terrified passengers.

According to NBCNews.com, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshine was returning to port in Charleston after a five-day voyage to the Bahamas when the storm hit Friday evening. While the ship reached port nine hours after expected arrival, it was able to sail its next planned voyage, although delayed a short time.

The National Hurricane Center said the storm surge lasted 12 hours, winds reached 80 miles per hour and swells reached 17 feet tall. At the time of the storm, the massive ship was carrying around 3,000 passengers and over 1,000 crew members.

One of the passengers onboard Carnival Sunshine, William Blackburn, told CNN that the situation was “terrifying,” and that he and his family stayed in their cabin and prayed throughout the storm.

Video from Twitter corroborated the tales from passengers on the Carnival vessel.

Another traveler on the ship, Bill Hassler, told CNN he was surprised he was still alive, saying that other passengers were “white as ghosts” due to the rough seas. Hassler said water filled the hallways and the waves threw items around the ship.

A spokesperson for Carnival told CBS News that several passengers and crew members needed minimal medical assistance, but guests onboard were safe throughout the incident.

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