Poor Weather Makes Carnival’s ‘Cruise, ‘ A Ship Sailing Nowhere’

Guests on a recent cruise sailing between Charleston in South Carolina and the Bahamas could not set foot outside the vessel owing to poor weather, transforming it into a “cruise to nowhere”.

The vessel in question was the Carnival Sunshine which boasts a capacity of 3,000 passengers.

‘Cruise to Nowhere’ is the unofficial nickname for a journey that departs from the port, travels for a period in international waters, and then heads home without stopping at another destination.

Business Insider has reported that Sunshine set sail from Charleston on 12 January. It sailed for two days in windy weather and was preparing to dock in Nassau on 14 January, complete with kids donning bathing suits and eager to leave.

That was when the crew made a snap safety decision at the last minute not to permit guests to go ashore. The captain declared the news over the ship as it was too gusty for the vessel to be docking. 

Business Insider reported that the winds on 14 January were gusting up to about 30 miles an hour.

Passenger Kat O’Donnell informed Business Insider that she, her children, and her husband felt they “missed out”; and did not get what they were there for. 

O’Donnell further mentioned that even though the situation was disappointing, she could comprehend the safety concerns.

A Carnival spokesperson informed Insider that guests received refunds for port fees, shore excursion expenses, and taxes. Kat O’Donnell reported that occupied staterooms were given a $100 onboard credit and a discount voucher for a future cruise.

References: Entrepreneur.com, Business Insider