- A cruise ship passenger has expressed his surprise at surviving a storm at sea.
- Bill Hassler told CNN that a wave broke his cabin window and let water in.
- The Carnival Sunshine was returning from the Bahamas and heading to South Carolina.
A passenger on a cruise ship that was caught in a terrifying storm while sailing to Charleston, South Carolina, says he feared for his life.
A storm off the southeast coast of the United States hit the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship as it returned from the Bahamas last weekend, Fox Weather reported. National Weather Service data showed there were wind speeds of up to 46 miles per hour in some areas of Charleston over the weekend.
Bill Hassler, a passenger on the ship, told CNN he was “surprised I was still alive” after the storm. He told the media that a wave shattered his cabin window and let water in.
He said: “When I got home on Sunday night I had to open a beer and think about it, and I started shaking because it had just set in. I couldn’t even believe I I’m still here.”
A video showing severe flooding following the incident was posted on Twitter by Crew Center and also featured in the CNN report.
Speaking to CNN, Hassler slammed the cruise line for sailing in poor weather, questioning why officials didn’t wait for the storm to calm down before setting off.
Representatives for Carnival Cruise Line did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment. However, a spokesperson said in a statement shared on Monday that the ship’s “return to Charleston was impacted by Saturday’s weather and rough seas.”
“The prolonged weather impact on the Charleston area has delayed the ship’s arrival and as a result, boarding the next voyage has also been delayed. We appreciate the patience and understanding of all of our guests. Carnival Sunshine is now sailing on her next cruise,” the statement read. read.
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