A couple was on a Carnival cruise ship when it was struck by lightning and caught fire during a Caribbean trip. Florence and Joe Torchia witnessed the lightning bolt hitting the ship while it was 20 miles off the coast of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. The crew quickly reported a fire in the ship’s exhaust funnel, leading to a scary moment for the passengers as they watched the fire on TV. Despite the crew’s efforts to respond to the fire, the couple noted that their hoses did not reach the funnel.
The Torchias tried to find their way to the muster station after the captain’s announcement, encountering fearful children and chaotic scenes. The falling exhaust stack eventually sent smoke into their cabin, adding to the already frightening situation. Despite the emergency, the couple appreciated the cruise line’s communication during the incident, but stated that this experience might make this trip their last. Florence expressed a preference for single-destination vacations in the Caribbean following the ordeal.
After the ship docked at Freeport and was able to return to Port Canaveral in Florida, Carnival conducted a thorough assessment of the damage caused by the fire. The cruise line is still investigating witness reports to determine the cause of the fire. The damage was more extensive than initially thought, requiring immediate repairs to stabilize the damaged funnel. As a result, Carnival canceled the March 25 and 29 cruises out of Port Canaveral, offering refunds to affected customers. This incident marks the second time in two years that the Carnival Freedom cruise ship’s funnel has caught fire.
Despite the terrifying experience, the Torchias praised the cruise line’s communication during the emergency, noting that they were kept informed of the situation throughout. However, the couple expressed their hesitation to embark on another cruise in the future, considering this may be their last cruise after the traumatic event. The Carnival spokesperson emphasized that the onboard team conducted a thorough assessment of the damage once the ship docked and are working to address the issues caused by the fire. Carnival is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its passengers as they continue to investigate the incident further.
