On Sunday, passengers aboard the Carnival Sunshine cruise were settling in just hours after the ship left for its weeklong voyage when plates and luggage started to fall from shelves.
For a full minute, the ship teetered to one side, according to CBS New York.
Unaware of what was happening, or if they were safe, the passengers began to panic.
Passenger David Crews said he wasn’t afraid — until the boat remained on its side. He told News 6:
“I didn’t think anything of it, since it’s not uncommon for ships to rock back and forth. But it didn’t rock back. It kept leaning. Plates and silverware started sliding off the tables. Then the tables themselves started to slide. Glasses and plates started to fall and shatter. At this point, it was pure chaos. Screams. Cries. Panic.”
This is the inside of the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship on Sunday evening. @CarnivalCruise says the ship listed (tilted or leaned) because of a technical issue just hours after leaving @PortCanaveral.
(H/t to David Crews for the pictures) pic.twitter.com/usSaQsZBzG
— Clay LePard (@ClayLePard) October 31, 2018
Kyla Williams was on the cruise with her husband and said he had to hold onto her so that she wouldn’t fall over:
“I was shifting, falling out of my seat. This was very much the ship rolling to one side and everything falling down from that, and it was something you’ll never forget.”
The ship’s crew rushed about trying to pick up fallen objects. Thankfully, the ship returned to its upright position after a minute and carried on with its course.
Passengers later received a letter from the crew stating that the ship rolled due to “a technical issue.” A spokesperson told CBS New York:
“There was never any issue with the safe operation of the ship. Our officers quickly intervened to correct the situation.”
Guests were given a $50 credit for the incident in a letter from the captain.
This is the letter guests received from @CarnivalCruise after their ship started to lean/tilt, causing all sorts of damage. pic.twitter.com/v5UNaM7LVA
— Clay LePard (@ClayLePardNews6) October 31, 2018
Regardless, some passengers decided to get off the ship early when it docked in the Dominican Republic.
It doesn’t appear anyone was injured when the ship rolled.
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