Charleston, South Carolina - Some passengers who recently returned from a cruise were met with a devastating surprise when they discovered that their cars had been totaled due to flooding in a parking lot owned by the South Carolina Ports Authority. The incident occurred during a Nor'easter that brought heavy rain, severe flooding, and record tide levels to downtown Charleston.

Stephanie Royal and her husband, who had traveled from North Carolina for a weekend cruise on the Carnival Sunshine, returned to Charleston Monday only to find their vehicles submerged in floodwater.

Royal explained, "When we got to the parking lot, we basically were told that nobody's cars would start. That they had been flooded."

Desperate to find a solution, passengers spent hours in the parking lot trying to get their cars running. Unfortunately, only older models were able to be jump-started, leaving many stranded without transportation.

The flooding in the parking lot meant additional expenses for the affected passengers. Royal estimated that she and her husband incurred an additional cost of $700 for ridesharing, renting a car, and arranging for a tow truck to get back to North Carolina. Although they made it home, their vehicle remains in Charleston, declared a total loss.

A spokesperson for the South Carolina Ports Authority addressed the situation, stating, "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."

The spokesperson further added, "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."

Carnival Cruise Line, in a statement, acknowledged the incident but clarified that the parking lot is not owned by the cruise company. The statement read, "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."

Despite the assistance provided by both the South Carolina Ports Authority and Carnival Cruise Line, some passengers expressed their disappointment with the handling of the situation. Royal voiced her concerns, saying, "Not so much financially, but it would've been nice to have that transportation to the airport or somewhere that we could've gotten additional help like a rental car or even a flight home."

As Royal and others affected await insurance payouts for their totaled cars, this incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and sometimes costly nature of unforeseen weather events.