What cruise ship hit the storm in the Bahamas?

A powerful storm hammered the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine over the weekend, leaving many passengers terrified as the rough seas rocked the ship and interior hallways began to flood.



The most notorious incident of a cruise ship hitting a severe storm in the Bahamas was the Anthem of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) in February 2016. The ship sailed into an extreme winter storm with hurricane-force winds exceeding 120 mph and waves topping 30 feet. The storm was so intense that it caused significant interior damage, forcing passengers to remain in their cabins for safety while the ship tilted at extreme angles. More recently, in early 2026, the Carnival Sunshine experienced a widely publicized "rogue storm" encounter near the Bahamas during a return trip to Charleston, where high winds and heavy swells flooded some lower-deck hallways and caused furniture to slide across public areas. These incidents are rare, but they highlight the power of the Atlantic during the winter and hurricane seasons. Modern cruise ships are designed to withstand these forces, but the sheer scale of the waves often leads to viral videos and significant discomfort for the thousands of guests on board.

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A powerful storm hammered the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine over the weekend, leaving many passengers terrified as the rough seas rocked the ship and interior hallways began to flood. Bill Hassler, who was on the cruise, talks to CNN This Morning about what he saw.

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Passengers aboard the Carnival Sunshine described shattered glass, water pouring into rooms and hallways, the ship pitching about and a lack of communication from cruise staff. Some passengers and crew members needed minor assistance from medical staff, a Carnival cruise spokesman told CBS News.

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There were 3,328 guests and 1,159 crew members on board when it crashed, none of whom were injured and all safely disembarked, according to Princess Cruises. The Ruby Princess cruise ship hit Pier 27 while docking Thursday morning, July 6, 2023, in San Francisco.

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The only way that it could happen is if the ship were in extreme weather and positioned sideways to a 70- to 100-foot wave that would have the potential of rolling it over, Bolton said. I guarantee you're never going to be in those kinds of waves anyway, he said.

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A rogue wave is usually defined as a wave that is two times the significant wave height of the area. The significant wave height is the average of the highest one-third of waves that occur over a given period. Rogue waves can disable and sink even the largest ships and oil rigs.

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Costa Concordia disaster, the capsizing of an Italian cruise ship on January 13, 2012, after it struck rocks off the coast of Giglio Island in the Tyrrhenian Sea. More than 4,200 people were rescued, though 32 people died in the disaster.

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Royal Caribbean has never had a ship sink. The captain makes sure to keep the ship out of dangerous situations (bad weather etc.).

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If you wonder whether cruise ships have jails, the answer is yes. Jails are called brigs on a cruise ship and tend only to be used in serious circumstances when no other options are available. Cabin arrest is typically used before the brig is needed.

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The only way that a cruise ship would be able to be flipped over is if it took the wave hit perpendicular on the port or starboard side, along the beam. Most of the time, ships will aim to hit a wave bow-first.

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In a dire scenario, a cruise ship could sink in a hurricane. But before you cancel all your future cruise plans, know this: it's highly unlikely. Cruise ships are built like fortresses. They boast stability, seaworthiness, and a bucket-load of safety features to help them ride out even the angriest storms.

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Wet season and dry season are both good times to cruise the Caribbean. The worst time for a Caribbean cruise weather-wise is August to September, as it is peak hurricane season.

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For 2023, the passenger capacity is forecast to grow another 18 percent, with the full fleet sailing, plus new ships entering service, offset by the retirement of older ships and some brands that ceased service during the pandemic.

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The last time a cruise ship sank with passengers on board was a Chinese river cruise ship in 2015, which hit an unexpected and severe storm that capsized the boat.

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Are cruise ships safe? Let's cut right to the chase: Yes, cruise ships are generally safe as long as you use common sense and remember that vessels are not impervious to accidents, illness or people who just don't know how to behave.

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Cruise ships are designed to be incredibly safe in storms. They have advanced navigation systems and stabilizers that help them stay on course, even in rough seas. The hulls of the ships are also built to withstand strong winds and waves, so they can handle most storms without any issues.

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While it is technically possible that a cruise ship could tip over, it would be extremely unlikely in the modern era. Even during the most severe storms, a modern cruise ship is far more stable than you might assume.

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Cruise ships are made of heavy steel, making them quite weighty. Add passengers and crew, and the ship is even heavier. With all this weight, the vessel can easily roll through rough waters or a rogue wave. It's more dangerous to be on an empty ship as the additional weight acts as a balancer in rough seas.

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