carnival cruise ship stuck at sea

Carnival ship gets stuck at sea, Disney shares vital reminder

C ruise itinerary and sailing dates are usually important factors that influence your decision to book a certain cruise. You don’t expect these key elements of your cruise to change. But you should be aware that they can, and sometimes do, especially when weather situations arise during hurricane season.

This week, Carnival Valor passengers found out just what it’s like to have your cruise itinerary changed due to weather as Hurricane Francine headed toward their ship’s homeport of New Orleans.

Related: Popular Royal Caribbean and Carnival port on 'reconsider travel' list

Carnival Valor gets stuck at sea due to Hurricane Francine

Francine made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on Sept. 11, the day before Carnival Valor was scheduled to arrive back in Port NOLA. With the port closed as officials conducted a post-storm assessment on Sept. 12, the cruise ship had to spend an extra day at sea waiting for clearance to return to New Orleans on Sept. 13.

With the delay, passengers booked on Carnival Valor’s next sailing, a 4-night cruise to Cozumel, also saw their cruise itinerary adjusted. With their cruise now departing a day later, passengers won’t get to visit Cozumel. The ship is expected to sail without a port of call visit.

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Disney Cruise Line reminds passengers of important travel document rule

This week, Disney Cruise Line sent out emails to passengers booked on upcoming round-trip sailings from the U.S. with an important reminder for those who are planning to sail using their birth certificates as citizenship documentation.

Only an original, state-issued birth certificate is acceptable as proof of citizenship for a cruise that begins and ends in the same U.S. port. Photocopies of birth certificates will no longer be accepted. The cruise line is enforcing a U.S. Customs and Border Protection rule that applies no matter which cruise line you’re sailing with from the U.S. A physical government-issued photo ID is also required for passengers 16 and older.

While an original birth certificate is accepted for certain cruises, the U.S. Department of State recommends all cruise passengers travel with a passport in case of an emergency.

ALSO READ: Disney Cruise Line increases fee for a dining room service

Disney Cruise Line opens bookings for Disney Destiny

Bookings are now open for Disney Cruise Line’s new heroes and villains-inspired ship, the Disney Destiny. Sailing from Fort Lauderdale beginning in November 2025, the new ship will feature “hero-worthy” staterooms and suites and debut new venues and experiences inspired by epic Disney adventures.

The Disney Destiny will sail an inaugural season of four- and five-night cruises to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale in late 2025 and early 2026. Every sailing includes a visit to one of Disney Cruise Line’s private island destinations in the Bahamas, either Disney Castaway Cay or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Some itineraries will visit both.

Related: What to watch for on Disney Cruise Line's new private island

Holland America Line updates Pinnacle Grill steakhouse menu

Carnival’s Holland America Line recently made enhancements to its Pinnacle Grill steakhouse menu to offer destination-focused dining. A new regional section of the menu will vary based on each ship’s itinerary. Regional offerings will be featured alongside the steakhouse’s signature dishes from renowned Chef David Burke.

The updated Pinnacle Grill menu reflects the flavors of each destination with a rotating selection of regional dishes featuring local ingredients and locally sourced fresh fish. Locally-inspired offerings will include dishes such as Jerked Chicken Bao in the Caribbean, Coconut Seafood Chowder in Hawaii and the South Pacific, Australian Black Angus Steak Tartare in Australia, and Seared Beef Tataki with Crispy Lotus Chips in Asia.

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Greece to add new tourist tax for cruise ship passengers

If you’re planning a Greek Isles cruise for next summer, you may pay an additional fee to visit Greece’s most popular islands. In an effort to combat overtourism, the Greek government shared plans to add a 20-euro per passenger tax on cruise ships sailing to the islands of Santorini and Mykonos during the peak summer season. 

The new cruise tax is expected to be introduced in 2025.

Earlier this summer, the Greek government also began considering ways to cap the number of cruise ships visiting the country’s most popular islands. Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the country is looking at options like limiting the number of berths and anchoring slots available. Cruise lines would have to secure spaces through bidding processes or auctions.

Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.

Carnival Cruise Line Ship Rescues 25 People Stranded at Sea Off Pacific Coast

• May 26, 2024

The Carnival Radiance’s team responded to a call from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and rescued 25 people who were stranded aboard a small boat off the Pacific coast of Mexico on Saturday.

According to a statement, the Carnival Radiance was sailing toward Ensenada, Mexico on Saturday afternoon when the Coast Guard informed the officers on board about a distress call involving a small vessel.

The ship was immediately routed toward the location provided by the USCG and the rescue was quickly completed, with all 25 people, including three children, stranded on the boat safely welcomed onto Carnival Radiance.

The team onboard offered to meet any immediate needs among the rescued group, including food, water and medical assistance, and coordinated a rendezvous with Coast Guard officials.

The Carnival Radiance left its homeport of Long Beach, Calif. on Friday for a three-day cruise, and its sailing remains on schedule.

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Carnival cruise ship hosting music festival at sea hits Jamaica pier, leaving passengers stuck on land

Carnival magic was part of 'shiprocked 2024,' a 6-night music festival at sea.

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Passengers on a music festival at sea had the blues when severe weather caused their Carnival cruise ship to hit a pier in Jamaica, damaging it so badly that cruisegoers were stuck on the island a lot longer than planned.

The incident impacted the Carnival Magic ship at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Ocho Rios, reports said. 

"Strong winds and swells caused the pier fender to collapse under pressure," a Carnival spokesman told USA Today.

The ship had to leave the area where it was docked, dock at another nearby pier later on and guests who were ashore were then able to rejoin the ship, the spokesman said. 

WARNING FOR CRUISE PASSENGERS AS SEXUAL ASSAULTS HIT NEW HIGH IN 2023: FBI

A closer look at the damage to the Carnival Magic as it was docked Tuesday in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.  (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

The trip was part of what was billed as ShipRocked 2024, a music festival at sea consisting of "six terrifying nights of music & madness," according to its website. As it turned out, they got more madness than they bargained for.

"We’re watching our ship sail off into the rainstorm. We’re like — nobody knew what was happening," passenger Dyllon Price told FOX 35 Orlando.  

Passenger Adam Muddleton said the storm caused him and his group to be stuck on the Caribbean island for nearly 12 hours.

"We had a couple thousand people just out in a field in the pouring rain and no shelter, no food, no drinks. I think there was one toilet," Middleton told FOX 35.

BAHAMAS TOUR BOAT SINKS, LEAVING 1 DEAD AS PASSENGER RECORDS TERRIFYING ORDEAL

The Carnival Magic is seen docked in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, during day three of the ShipRocked cruise on Tuesday. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

The ship left Miami on Sunday, according to CruiseMapper. It was scheduled to be in Ocho Rios from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time Tuesday.

Passengers told FOX 35 the mishap caused them to spend another day in Jamaica, and crews spent Wednesday inspecting the damage.

The Carnival Magic left Miami on Sunday for the ShipRocked 2024 sailing. (GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)

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"I don’t think we ever should have docked," Price said. "It might have been a bummer to skip Jamaica, but not as bad as it was to be stuck on the island for 12 hours."

No injuries were reported, and the ship remained operational.

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Carnival passenger documents 24-hour nightmare as storm pounded cruise ship off Southeast coast

Daniel Taylor, of Albemarle, North Carolina, was one of the passengers aboard the ship and reported water damage and communication outages, as well as high waves that battered the vessel. He spoke to FOX Weather after documenting his experience in a timeline of events.

Coastal storm leaves Carnival passengers in distress as large waves pound cruise ship

A Carnival cruise was anything but a carnival for thousands of sea-sick passengers caught up in a coastal storm over the Memorial Day weekend. Daniel Taylor was one of the passengers aboard Carnival Sunshine. He joins FOX Weather to talk about his experience.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – A coastal storm generated a lot of drama on the high seas over the weekend for passengers aboard a Carnival cruise ship.

The storm churned up large waves that rocked Carnival Sunshine and its passengers, making for a rough return to port and delaying its return from the Bahamas over the Memorial Day weekend.

National Weather Service meteorologists were expecting waves upwards of 15 feet Friday, but some computer models indicated wave heights could reach 20 feet in the storm system.

CRUISE SHIP CARNIVAL SUNSHINE POUNDED BY LARGE WAVES DURING COASTAL STORM NEAR CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Cruise ship passengers reported water damage and broken glass, as well as high waves that battered the vessel. (Daniel Taylor)

Friday's cruise chaos

Taylor said the weather was great prior to the large waves that were churned up by a powerful storm off the Southeast coast.

"We had a few rain patches here and there, but not enough to affect a vacation," Taylor said. "It was nice and warm out each day."

By 4 p.m. Friday, the weather started looking bad in the distance. Taylor said he remembers that was about when they started to hit rough seas.

"It was only 45 minutes later that Captain Contarino came over the intercom system to let everyone know that due to adverse weather conditions, we may arrive later in port than scheduled," Taylor said. "He also advised that the staff would do everything they could to minimize any discomfort."

After the captain made his 4:45 p.m. announcement, Taylor said "vomit bags" were put out at all the elevators. What unfolded over the next 24 hours was described by Taylor as a nightmare on the open sea.

Taylor said the ship started hitting much larger swells. He said:

"I was in the Liquid Lounge watching a show, and the sound of the waves hitting the ship could be heard over the music. The stage lights were shaking, disco ball swinging back and forth, and the LED wall on the stage was moving side to side. I left the show to go look outside. I went out on Deck 6 forward to take some videos and photos at the front of the ship. The storm we were running into looked worse and worse by the minute as the skies gradually got darker."

Staff started closing off public decks. Taylor said:

This video was taken at 8:28 p.m. Friday from Deck 6 forward heading into the storm.

(Daniel Taylor)

"The open lido deck was being cleared for safety, and I was asked to leave the front deck."

Taylor said he visited the buffet area to grab a sandwich from the deli. He said:

"We hit a very large swell which resulted in plates stacked up falling over and cups toppling over at the drink station."

By 10:02 p.m. Friday, Taylor said the ship was bobbing up and down from the large swells creating g-forces and the feeling of weightlessness.

Taylor said he was back in his room. He said:

When the ship hit 70kts (80 mph) winds, Taylor said the captain slowed the ship and turned heading north-northeast heading directly into the storm.

"The cruise info screen showed we had slowed down to almost 5kts (5.8 mph), while winds were hitting us at 70kts (80 mph). It was at this point I noticed the captain had turned the ship from going northwest into Charleston to now going north/northeast directly toward where the eye of this storm system was. It was also around this time that water was hitting my porthole window on Deck 2."

The stateroom across from Taylor, front of ship, began leaking water through the upper Pullman bed. The two guests packed their belongings and left their room, Taylor said.

Taylor said: "I heard the girls in the cabin across from me in the hallway, so I opened my door to find that their room was taking on water. The upper Pullman bed had water pouring in, wetting the bed they would be sleeping on, dripping all over the nightstand beside the bed and soaking the carpet."

A video monitor in Taylor's room shows an important announcement screen.

Taylor said: "They took our cruise information screen off the TV and replaced with an ‘address announcement standby’ screen, which remained until 7:30 a.m. when the announcement was made. Around this time was also when our internet stopped working. This left us blind to knowing anything about where we were, where we were going, how fast we were traveling, and wind speeds for over five hours."

Taylor said there was no communication from the captain or cruise director from the 4:45 p.m. announcement on Friday until the 7:30 a.m. Saturday announcement was made by the cruise director.

He said: "This announcement was telling us that we were outside Charleston harbor and our pilot has been delayed due to weather conditions."

Taylor took a photo at 6:40 a.m. Saturday from the back of the ship from the Havana area.

Taylor said: "The captain came on the intercom to tell us that at that time, we were unable to safely proceed into port - that fleet operations was monitoring the situation and would keep us updated."

Taylor said: "Update from cruise director, announced activities they were coming up with to try to keep guests entertained while we were waiting out at sea."

Video taken at 6 a.m. Saturday by Taylor shows the ship continuing to hit large swells but not as bad as it was through the night, he told FOX Weather.

Taylor said: "An announcement was made about there being a problem with the satellites, which affected Wi-Fi. This entire time, we weren’t able to use our Hub App for chatting to other shipmates or use the internet/other apps to communicate with anyone."

Taylor said: "Announcement from the captain that we were heading to the pilot station in hopes of being able to sail into Charleston."

He said the ship arrived at the port about 5:30 p.m. and started disembarking 30 minutes later.

Taylor said: "A little after 7 p.m., I was finally able to get off the ship and into my car by 8 p.m. to drive home four hours to Albemarle, North Carolina."

He said this was his third time aboard Sunshine out of Charleston and his fourth with the cruise line.

Cruise ship Carnival Sunshine pounded by large waves during coastal storm near Charleston, South Carolina

Passengers aboard the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine were left distressed as large waves churned up by a powerful storm off the Southeast coast pounded the vessel, delaying its return from the Bahamas over the Memorial Day weekend.  

What Carnival officials say

Matt Lupoli, senior manager of public relations for Carnival Cruise Line, released the following statement Tuesday:

"The ship’s crew followed our protocols for rough weather and thankfully, no one was seriously injured. Our medical staff helped a small number of guests and crew members who needed minor assistance.

"The ship’s captain made several announcements about the weather and the delay it caused in returning to Charleston, asking guests to use extra precaution while walking around the ship. Some of the worst weather occurred in the overnight hours when announcements are not typically made, but guests and crew were safe. The ship’s officers worked through the night to minimize discomfort as much as possible from the added movement caused by the rough ocean. And we have heard from many guests who were very complimentary of the crew and how they managed the situation.

"The weather was unexpectedly strong, causing conditions that were rougher than forecasted. Given the circumstances as they were, the ship’s officers and our Fleet Operations Center team using real time meteorology data coordinated to keep the ship in its safest location. Attempting to sail out of the large front could have been dangerous. The ship proceeded to the port as soon as the weather began to clear."

• South Carolina
• Severe Weather

Bonus vacation or choppy nightmare? Here's what it's like on a cruise ship stuck at sea during a hurricane

There's always a possibility of bad weather and rough seas when you go on a cruise, but cruise lines are well prepared to change course if an approaching storm could be too dangerous to navigate. There are also contingencies if they are unable to return to port as scheduled. Right now, all those playbooks have been dusted off and are in use.

On Monday, Sept. 26, as Hurricane Ian was closing in on Florida, Disney Wish left Port Canaveral for a four-night Bahamas cruise with planned stops at Nassau and Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private island, before a planned return to Port Canaveral on Friday, Sept. 30.

But with Hurricane Ian a dangerous Category 4 storm making landfall in Central Florida, Port Canaveral closed and has ceased all operations until further notice.

Without the option to return to Florida as originally scheduled, Disney Wish — along with other cruise ships — is (temporarily) "stuck" at sea.

While staying at sea and away from the storm is the safest decision, travelers still have a lot of questions, concerns and general curiosity about the change of course. The Points Guy spoke with passengers currently on board Disney Wish to learn what it's like being out at sea for a few extra days during a hurricane.

You'll get frequent updates from the captain

When Disney Wish set sail on Sept. 26, the captain made an announcement that the ship might return to Port Canaveral later in the day than originally planned based on the projected forecast at that time. Matt Roseboom, editor and publisher at Attractions Magazine , is on board the sailing and captured video footage of the initial announcement.

The captain notified guests with flights leaving before 3 p.m. on Sept. 30 to contact their airline to depart later in the day, if possible. He also advised that they were watching Hurricane Ian carefully and would continue to keep passengers updated on the weather throughout the voyage.

Lizzie Meeks, a Disney travel advisor in Nashville, is also on the sailing and explained to TPG that the captain told guests "the port authority will need to assess any damage before giving the ship the green light to move into port and the cruise terminal."

Your itinerary might be adjusted

A cruise ship's schedule of port visits and sea days can be adjusted midcruise for a number of reasons. The weather is certainly one of those reasons — even absent a full-fledged hurricane. But when a hurricane is churning, it is very possible that the ship's itinerary will change.

Related: When will cruise ports in Florida reopen?

For Disney Wish, a port change announcement came on the morning of Sept. 28 when the ship was scheduled to dock at Castaway Cay for the day. Rather than head toward Disney's private island, and toward the storm, the ship turned toward the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean where seas would be calmer.

Meeks shared that the winds near Castaway Cay were too strong, with little hope for improvement, so the captain made the decision to sail away from the area.

A day at port became a day at sea, but Disney conjured a bit of its famous "Disney magic" and added more activities throughout the day, according to Roseboom. "They made an announcement and told us to close out of the Disney Cruise app and reopen it to see the new schedule of activities," he said. Mickey and his friends still wore their island outfits to greet guests, even if everyone had to stay on board.

"They've really made an effort to make it a special day," Meeks said. "There have been a ton of new character meet and greets throughout the day, including Marvel, 'Star Wars' and Halloween characters that are typically reserved for special event cruises. New group games and trivia themes have been added, as well as additional times for drink tastings like Champagne, bourbon, gin and more," she added.

Related: What happens when a hurricane hits Disney World

Your cruise might be extended

If a hurricane strikes while you are at sea, it's also possible that you may end up with an extended sailing and extra days on the ship.

That's currently the situation for Carnival Paradise, Carnival Elation, Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Getaway, MSC Cruise's MSC Divina and Disney Wish. With several Florida ports closed due to the storm, the ships cannot return to disembark passengers on schedule.

In such cases, cruise lines have two options: head to a different port up or down the coast to disembark passengers or remain at sea until the ship's home port reopens. Docking at a different port creates a whole new set of issues for passengers who need to return to cars, homes or airports near the originally scheduled port — so that option is rarely used.

Related: At least 5 cruise ships stuck at sea as Hurricane Ian closes Florida ports

In the case of Disney Wish, the first announcement came on the evening of Sept. 27 as the storm moved closer to shore. Based on updated forecasts, the captain announced the ship would not return to port until Saturday or Sunday, after the storm had passed and they could better assess the situation at Port Canaveral. That meant passengers would remain on board one or two days longer than expected.

Before he could even complete the announcement, cheers erupted through the ship, as seen in the below video.

In a subsequent announcement on the afternoon of Sept. 28, the captain updated guests that Disney Wish would return to Port Canaveral on Sunday instead of Friday and that the ship should be able to dock at Castaway Cay on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Even before the extension of this sailing was formally announced, Disney Cruise Line canceled the upcoming Disney Wish sailing that was set to depart Port Canaveral on Friday, Sept. 30, as a safety precaution.

Extra days are generally a good thing

As that announcement was made, audible cheers confirmed that most guests were thrilled that their vacation was just extended indefinitely. "The general sentiment is that people are content and happy about the extra day(s)," Roseboom said.

Cruise ships can easily avoid storms by sailing away from them and chasing better weather. For Disney Wish, at least, the weather has been fairly calm. "The current weather is sunshine with some humidity. We had choppier waves this morning [when the ship was closer to the storm], but from where we are now, you wouldn't even know there was a hurricane in the distance," Meeks said.

Plus, the crew is prepared to innovate to accommodate the extra days. The entertainment staff will schedule more sea-day activities, just as they did when Castaway Cay got canceled.

Guests don't need to worry about running out of food, as cruise ships carry more than just one sailing's worth of food on board. In a pinch, the cruise ship can find a way of picking up provisions in the islands. With two extra days at sea, the ship might run out of specific perishables, like berries, but passengers will still have plenty of choices at every meal.

Because Disney Wish employs a rotational dining schedule, in which passengers are assigned nights at each of the ship's main restaurants, guests must now wait to be told which restaurants they should dine in on the additional nights of the sailing. "Since Disney Cruise Line uses rotational dining, they simply assigned us two more nights of a restaurant. It's really operating like normal in many ways," Meeks said.

You'll have to rearrange travel plans

Roseboom, who resides in Central Florida, is enjoying the extra day or two of vacation, but is equally worried about his house and friends and family back home in the wake of Hurricane Ian. "For cruisers who live outside of Florida, they seem to be mostly happy, but they do have to figure out how to change their flights," he shared.

For Meeks, reality set in as the cheers subsided.

"Some people, including myself, found the news concerning because of travel logistics — changing transfers and flights, booking a hotel room just in case our flights are canceled and communicating with family back home are all stressful and you could feel the tension late last night," she said.

Not only is Port Canaveral closed until Hurricane Ian passes and the wind calms, but Orlando International Airport (MCO) has also shuttered during the storm .

Even once the airport reopens after the storm has passed, it will take some time for planes and crews to get back into position, and longer still to accommodate all of the passengers who have been temporarily stranded in the Central Florida area.

This is one of the reasons why when cruising during hurricane season, it's very important to seriously consider travel insurance, or at least book your trip using a credit card that conveys some built-in trip protections to help minimize the financial impact.

Bottom line

"There are certainly worse places to be 'stuck,'" Meeks told us. "A lot of people have the perspective that we are safe and have much to be thankful for," she added. Crew and passenger safety is the reason cruise lines make the decision to stay at sea past the end of their scheduled itinerary. Yes, it can be inconvenient, but cruise lines do go out of their way to make the most of the experience for their guests, and safety is always the top priority.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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Men stranded in Gulf of Mexico are rescued by Carnival cruise ship, photos show

• Jennifer Rodriguez The Charlotte Observer (TNS)

Two men were stranded at sea after their boat sank in the Gulf of Mexico.

The boaters were found by crew members of the  Carnival Jubilee  cruise ship, according to a Monday news release from the cruise line.

The men were inside a kayak that they used to stay afloat, the cruise line said.

“The ship’s team members spotted the two men off the coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and quickly rescued them,” according to Carnival.

The men were brought on board and treated by the ship’s medical staff and given food, Carnival officials said.

“The ship’s team and Carnival’s Fleet Operation Center staff in Miami kept in close contact with Mexican Navy officials and arranged a transfer, which was completed shortly after the rescue,” the news release said.

It’s unclear how the men’s boat sank or how long they were stranded.

The cruise ship had set sail  from Galveston, Texas , according to KTRK.

©2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit  charlotteobserver.com . Distributed by  Tribune Content Agency LLC.

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Cruise passenger who fell overboard tells how he survived 15 hours in the water and battled ‘sea creature’

A coast guard rescuer who saved mr grimes estimated the man had at most a minute left before he succumbed to the waves when they found him, article bookmarked.

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James Michael Grimes’ Thanksgiving was unorthodox.

After winning an air guitar contest, he toppled off the side of a cruise ship , battled a "sea creature," treaded water for more than half a day, and survived on bamboo — or maybe just some kind of stick — until the Coast Guard picked him up the next day.

And, according to him, though alcohol was consumed, it did not play a part in the chain of events.

Mr Grimes, 28, survived a harrowing 15 hours at sea that could have turned tragic had he not managed to keep himself afloat while waves washed over him in the Gulf of Mexico .

Mr Grimes and his sister were on a Carnival cruise ship departing from New Orleans and bound for Cozumel, Mexico on 23 November. At some point that evening, Mr Grimes’ sister noticed he had left to use the restroom and had not returned. After failing to return the following day, she reported him missing and, a few hours later, the Coast Guard was notified that the man had vanished.

According to Mr Grimes, who gave an interview to ABC News’ Good Morning America about his ordeal, that night he had just won an air guitar competition in one of the ship’s lounges and had hit the bar to celebrate.

He said he did not have "tons" of drinks and that he "couldn’t really say" how much booze he had actually consumed, but assured the interviewer he was not drunk at the time.

Whatever the case, the next thing he remembers is floating around in the Gulf of Mexico without a ship in sight.

He treaded water for hours, noting during the interview that he was terrified of drowning and was desperate to see his family again.

"I wanted to see my family and I was dead set on making it out of there, you know. I was never accepting that this is it. This is going to be the end of my life," he said during the interview.

As he fought to stay above the waves, Mr Grimes claims he had an encounter with a "sea creature" that he initially worried could have been a shark. He claims the creature had a fin and bumped his leg, spooking him to the point where he felt the need to kick at the animal.

"I thought it was a shark. I mean, I was swimming in one direction and looked around I seen it out the corner of my eye and it came up on me really quick and went under and I could see it and it wasn’t a shark," he said.

He saw the fish had a "flat mouth" just before it bumped him, prompting him to kick at it.

Mr Grimes had nothing to eat or drink for the duration of his time floating in the Gulf. That’s why when a stick that he says "looked like bamboo" floated by him he scooped it up and began chewing on it. Though he has no idea if it provided any nutritional value, he did note that it at least provided the comfort of tasting something other than salt water.

He began to worry as night fell — the water’s temperature cooled, and his body was running out of energy — but he says he remained positive, believing he had survived for a reason.

"You know, the fall didn’t kill me, you know, sea creatures didn’t eat me, I felt like I was meant to get out of there," he said.

And he did; he was eventually spotted by a passing tanker, which notified the US Coast Guard rescuers. The Coast Guard units arrived on scene and, according to one rescuer, likely found Mr Grimes just in time.

Richard Hoefle, a US Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician, told 4WWL News that Mr Grimes was "at his limit" when they found him.

"Some people break down and cry, some people are in shock, and they don’t know what’s going on, some people are ecstatic and they act a little crazy because they are so happy to be out of the situation that they’re in," Mr Hoefle said, describing typical reactions of individuals who are rescued. "Mr Grimes had nothing left. He had no energy. He had nothing left to give. My best guess is that he had between a minute and 30 seconds left before we lost him completely."

Mr Grimes said he recalled being secured by Mr Hoefle and remembers "just thinking ‘thank you, you are like a guardian angel.’"

The Coast Guard transported Mr Grimes to a hospital in New Orleans. He was treated for hypothermia and dehydration, and has since been released.

Mr Grimes told Good Morning America that the experience "opened my eyes" and taught him to be mindful of that which he takes for granted. It also left him lacking a proper cruise experience.

"I definitely would be open to go on another cruise," he said, "because I really didn’t get to go on this one."

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Cruise Ship Rescues 14 People Stranded at Sea for 8 Days as Passengers Look on in 'Shock': WATCH

'We could see in the waves a tiny boat," passenger Alessandra Amodio tells PEOPLE of the incident that happened aboard the Icon of the Seas on Sunday

A cruise ship’s voyage to Mexico and the Bahamas turned into a rescue mission when the boat spotted a small vessel in the waves.

On Sunday, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas , the new world's largest cruise ship that launched in January, rescued 14 people who had been stranded at sea for over a week.

Icon passenger Alessandra Amodio told PEOPLE that the cruise ship was in the midst of an eight-day Caribbean itinerary when they spotted the individuals.

"I was in the lunch buffet with my family when we heard a coded announcement over the loud speakers," Amodio told PEOPLE, adding that the announcement came at around 3 p.m. local time. "A few minutes later people started gathering at the windows and then the captain came on and announced that they had found a distressed vessel and we would be turning around to investigate. We all rushed to the windows and in the nearish distance we could see in the waves a tiny boat waving either a large white flag or sheet."

Shortly after, the ship turned around and pulled up next to the boat and "deployed a small zodiac-type rescue boat," she recalls.

@alessandra_rosee/ LOCAL NEWS X/ TMX

"Eventually we saw Royal Caribbean crew helping about two people from the distressed boat onto the rescue boat before returning to the vessel. They then made a few more trips to safely bring everyone on board."

According to Amodio, they later found out that the passengers on the small boat had been "lost at sea for eight days."

Royal Caribibean

"We got a final announcement once they were all on board safely telling us there was 14 people on board," she said, adding that passengers clapped and cheered upon hearing everyone had been rescued safely.

"Our first reaction was shock, I’ve been on six or so cruises and I’ve never experienced anything even close to this," Amodio continued. "During the rescue everyone was more shocked and the general consensus was that this wasn’t something anyone ever thought would be happening. It was crazy to see, even knowing where they were in the water, once they dropped the flag, they were hard to spot. Just seeing this small boat you knew was filled with people surrounded by the vastness of the water was enough to freak you out. "

Royal Caribbean

The ship was on its first full day of sailing and it was between Cozumel, Mexico and western Cuba when the incident happened.

"We weren’t told by the captain or crew what happened to them," Amodio added of the rescued individuals.  

The cruise liner, which departed from Miami, Florida, was headed to Roatán, Honduras, and Royal Caribbean's private Bahamian island, CocoCay, during its voyage.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Royal Caribbean told PEOPLE in a statement, "On March 3, 2024, Icon of the Seas encountered a small vessel adrift and in need of assistance. The ship's crew immediately launched a rescue operation, safely bringing 14 people onboard. The crew provided them with medical attention, and is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard."

A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson told Newsweek that the rescue occurred in Mexico's search-and-rescue area of responsibility.

The Icon of the Seas made its maiden voyage out of South Florida in late January. The ship departed from Port Miami and docked at ports including Puerto Costa Maya in Mexico, Basseterre in St. Kitts & Nevis and Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas.

Along with the world’s largest pool and water park at sea, Icon also boasts eight "neighborhoods" to explore and an open-air "Central Park."

The record-breaking vessel overtook Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas , which formerly held the title of largest cruise ship in the world.

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Fire-damaged Carnival ship stuck at sea another day

• The 102%2C000-ton Carnival Triumph had been dead in the water since early Sunday
• Power outages on the vessel have resulted in uncomfortable conditions for passengers
• The ship is not expected to reach land until late Thursday

The giant Carnival cruise ship that was left adrift in the Gulf of Mexico after a weekend fire will be towed to Mobile, Ala., and should get there Thursday, the cruise line said Monday night.

Earlier Monday, Carnival had said the 102,000-ton Carnival Triumph would be towed to Progreso, Mexico, which at the time was closer, and arrive by late Wednesday. But the ship has since drifted about 90 miles north because of strong currents, putting it equidistant to Mobile.

"Given the strength of the currents, it is preferable to head north to Mobile, rather than attempt to tow against them," Carnival president and CEO Gerry Cahill said in a statement issued late Monday.

The first of two tugboats that will pull the Carnival Triumph to Mobile arrived on the scene Monday evening, and the second is expected to arrive early Tuesday, Cahill said.

Passengers on the Carnival Triumph have described uncomfortable conditions in the wake of the fire, which occurred Sunday morning. While the blaze was contained to the engine room with the help of the ship's automatic fire suppression systems, it resulted in a loss of power used to operate air conditioning, elevators and toilets in passenger areas as well as kitchen equipment used to prepare hot meals. For a time, the vessel's freshwater system also was down.

At least some passengers spent Sunday night sleeping on the Carnival Triumph's open decks due to lack of air conditioning in the ship. Plastic bags were used as makeshift toilets.

Carnival on Monday said technicians on the Carnival Triumph had restored its freshwater system, and toilets were operating in some parts of the vessel. Some power had been restored to the ship's Lido buffet, allowing for hot coffee and limited hot food service. Power also has been restored to a limited number of elevators on the ship, making it easier for passengers to move around the vessel.

None of the 3,143 passengers and 1,086 crew on board the Carnival Triumph were injured during the fire, but on Monday a passenger in need of dialysis was transferred off the ship to another Carnival vessel, the Carnival Legend, for transport to Cozumel, Mexico. Arriving Monday afternoon, the Legend also provided meals for passengers on the Triumph. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Vigorous also is on the scene.

At the time of the fire, the Carnival Triumph was near the end of a four-night cruise to Mexico out of Galveston, Texas that began on Thursday. The ship had been scheduled to return to Galveston early Monday. Carnival says it is arranging to get passengers back home from Mobile after the ship arrives on Thursday.

Industry analyst Tim Conder of Wells Fargo on Monday estimated the incident could cost parent company Carnival Corp. as much as 10 cents per share, or nearly $80 million, in lost revenue, passenger reimbursements and repair costs.

The fire also could take a toll on future bookings for the line, although industry watchers say it's too soon to know for sure. While the incident comes at the height of the busiest time of the year for cruise bookings, a period known as Wave Season, travel agents on Monday weren't bracing for a downturn in business, in part because the story has yet to get major play in the media, says Mike Driscoll of Cruiseweek, an industry newsletter.

"That's partly due to the lack of injuries, but also because of the headline-grabbing resignation of the pope," says Driscoll, noting that the pope's surprise resignation resulted in less media exposure for the incident than it otherwise might have gotten. "Of course, that could all change."

The Carnival Triumph fire comes just two years after another Carnival ship, the 113,000-ton Carnival Splendor, was disabled off the Pacific coast of Mexico by a fire during a cruise from California – a similar incident that ultimately had a negative impact on cruise bookings in the state, says Driscoll.

"The (Carnival Splendor) story became big not only in print and TV but social media," Driscoll says. "That really didn't happen until after the ship was towed back into port."

The Carnival Triumph fire is just the latest in a string of serious incidents involving cruise ships, most notably the Costa Concordia capsizing in January 2012 that left 32 passengers dead. In another incident this weekend , five crew members of a 1,056-passenger ship operated by UK-based Thomson Cruises were killed in an accident during a safety drill.

After the fire on the Carnival Splendor in late 2010, the ship was out of service for months. Carnival has not said how long it thinks the Carnival Triumph could be out of service, but the line already has cancelled the ship's next two voyages.

Carnival also moved quickly to offer all passengers on the current sailing of the Carnival Triumph a full refund for the trip as well as a credit for a future cruise.