'Traumatized': Horrifying Video Footage Shows Carnival Cruise Ship Get Rocked By Massive Storm The Carnival Sunshine was headed back to Charleston, South Carolina from the Bahamas.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

It was a vacationer's worst nightmare come true after a Carnival Cruise ship battled a massive storm off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina over the holiday weekend.

"Carnival Sunshine's return to Charleston was impacted by the weather and rough seas on Saturday," Carnival explained in a statement per CNN.  "The weather's prolonged impact on the Charleston area delayed the ship's arrival on Sunday and as a result, the next voyage's embarkation was also delayed."

Passengers onboard the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship took to social media to share their harrowing experiences as they made their way back from The Bahamas.

In one vivid clip, passengers struggle to keep their door shut as the "90 mph wind" kept throwing it open, leaving the crew and frightened guests to use a bathrobe to try to pull the door shut.

@line_line2108 #carnivalcruise #carnivalsunshine #cruisetok #cruiselife? #carnivalcruiseline #charlestonsc ♬ original sound - line_line2108

In another video that's been viewed over 7.6 million times, a passenger named Aeryn shows how rough the seas were, with water coming over the deck and flooding the ship.

@aerynvictoriah Carnival Sunshine Storm 2023 :; This was so scary for all of us on board. Never thought I would experience such a thing #CARNIVAL #carnivalcruise #carnivalsunshine #storm #FYP #CapCut ♬ Creepy and simple horror background music(1070744) - howlingindicator

"Are you traumatized, cause I would be," one commenter said. "That's one of my biggest fears unlocked."

"It's giving Titanic," another said, trying to make light of the situation.

One passenger claimed via TikTok that cruise-goers were left "high and dry" and were not given updates about the storm and its strength until 7:40 a.m. Saturday morning.

"We were left blind for almost 15 hours," he said.

The Carnival Sunshine can fit just over 3,000 guests with 1,040 crew members.

Five-day cruises from Charleston to the Bahamas start at an average of $349 per person.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Operations & Logistics

PPP Forgivable Loans Will be Unforgiving for Many

Business who don't bring back their entire workforce will have their eligible forgiveness amount reduced.

Science & Technology

5 AI Books Top Entrepreneurs Are Reading in a Rush for 2025

Entrepreneurs must embrace AI or risk falling behind. Discover 2025's top 5 AI books to gain a competitive edge, featuring insights from "The Wolf is at the Door" and a free AI Success Kit.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Growing a Business

AI Adoption Doesn't Have to Be Daunting Anymore — Here's How to Choose the Right AI Tools For Your Small Business

As 2025 begins, AI adoption may still feel daunting for many business owners — but it doesn't have to be. Here's how to pick the best AI tools for your needs and integrate them wisely into your existing systems.