Flooding Leaves Carnival Sunshine Passengers with Destroyed Cars
ICARO Media Group
After a rainy cruise to the Bahamas, passengers aboard the Carnival Sunshine were met with an unpleasant surprise upon their return to port in Charleston, South Carolina. Their cars had been flooded and destroyed. The passengers, who had not received any prior notice of the situation, were left to discover the damage themselves. Downtown Charleston experienced record rainfall over the weekend, resulting in widespread flooding throughout the city.
Stephanie Royal, one of the affected passengers, expressed her frustration at the lack of communication. She mentioned that there were no warnings given aboard the cruise ship or upon disembarkation about the condition of their vehicles. It was only when they reached their cars that passengers realized they would not start, finding evidence of flooding as they opened their vehicles.
Royal and her husband, Wesley, suffered significant losses as their Chevy Equinox was deemed unsalvageable. They reported that the cruise line and port staff did not provide any information or assistance regarding the damaged cars. Carnival Cruise Line released a statement expressing regret for the incident and directing inquiries to parking officials. They mentioned that although they helped guests connect with their insurance providers, they ultimately had no control over the parking facility.
In response to the situation, the South Carolina Port Authority provided assistance to the affected passengers. They supplied police reports for insurance claims and assisted in contacting towing companies and finding transportation to nearby hotels. However, the Port Authority clarified that they do not assume liability for vehicles or personal property left in the passenger parking areas.
According to an advisory sent by Carnival Cruise Line on behalf of the South Carolina Port Authority, the storm's severity was greater than anticipated. The Port Authority attributed this to the uncertainty surrounding the storm's path until after the Carnival Sunshine had set sail. The National Weather Service also underestimated the height of the tide by over 2 feet.
In light of the incident, the Port Authority decided to credit passengers for parking charges and acknowledged the additional costs incurred by many. However, some passengers, like Stephanie Royal and her husband, were disappointed by the lack of assistance in terms of transportation and towing. They had to rely on a rideshare app to get to the airport and rent a car to return home, which added an extra $700 to their trip expenses. They are now seeking reimbursement from their insurance company.
Royal emphasized the need for improved communication and urged authorities to inform passengers about the possibility of such flooding in the parking lots. She believed that if the captain of the Carnival Sunshine had relayed information to the Port Authority, passengers could have been informed before reaching the parking area, which would have been highly beneficial.
This incident comes in the wake of unfavorable weather affecting another Bahamas-bound cruise. The MSC Meraviglia, scheduled to sail to the Bahamas, was rerouted to New England and Canada due to freezing conditions, much to the disappointment of some passengers.
As passengers seek compensation for their losses, it remains to be seen what measures will be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future.