Following a rain-soaked Bahamas cruise, numerous Carnival Sunshine passengers returned to port in Charleston, South Carolina, on Monday only to find a distressing surprise awaiting them: flooded cars.
Stephanie Royal, a passenger on the four-night cruise with her husband, Wesley, expressed her dismay, stating that they were left to discover that their cars wouldn’t start and were completely destroyed. The passengers did not receive any prior notice of the challenges they would face upon their return, which was delayed by about six hours.
Downtown Charleston experienced record rainfall over the weekend, with nearly 4 inches on Sunday. The intense rain, coupled with strong winds pushing water onshore, led to widespread flooding issues in Charleston on Sunday.
Upon their return on Monday, everything initially appeared normal for the cruise passengers. The sun was shining, and the parking lots were seemingly clear. Neither the cruise line nor port staff conveyed any information about the flooded cars as passengers disembarked, according to Royal.
It wasn’t until the passengers reached their cars that they realized the extent of the damage. Evidence of flooding became apparent as they opened their vehicles.
Royal reported that their Chevy Equinox was declared a total loss and was headed to the salvage yard on Friday.
Carnival Cruise Line issued a statement expressing regret for the impact on guests’ vehicles due to the recent storm. The cruise line clarified that while they assisted where possible, the parking facility was not under their control, redirecting inquiries to parking officials.
The South Carolina Port Authority, contacted by CNN, did not immediately respond. However, the Port Authority provided a statement to CNN affiliate WCIV, stating that they worked closely with passengers to offer assistance, including providing police reports for insurance claims, helping with towing arrangements, and finding transportation to nearby hotels.
While the Port Authority does not assume liability for vehicles left in passenger parking areas, they committed to supporting cruise customers and credited parking charges back to passengers. The statement acknowledged the underestimated storm’s impact on the height of the tide and the unexpected challenges faced.
In an advisory shared by Royal, sent by Carnival Cruise Line on behalf of the South Carolina Port Authority, it was mentioned that the storm’s path was uncertain until after the cruise departed, and the tide’s height was greater than predicted.
Royal and her husband were informed that the Port Authority couldn’t assist with transportation and towing on Monday. To return home to Brevard, North Carolina, they used a rideshare app to get to the airport and rented a car—an additional expense of about $700, which they are seeking reimbursement for from their insurance company.
Royal emphasized her frustration with the lack of communication and urged authorities to inform passengers about the potential for such flooding when parking in those lots. She suggested that if the captain had communicated with the Port Authority during the cruise, passengers could have been better informed before reaching the parking lot.
Regarding the overall cruise experience, Royal described it as less than amazing, with unfavorable weather conditions persisting throughout the journey. This incident follows another Bahamas cruise affected by adverse weather, where an MSC Meraviglia cruise was rerouted to New England and Canada instead of the Bahamas.
Contributors to this report include CNN’s Sara Smart, Caroll Alvarado, Mary Gilbert, Elizabeth Wolfe, and Robert Shackelford.