Coast Guard Airlifts Guest From Carnival Sunshine

A medical emergency aboard Carnival Sunshine led to a U.S. Coast Guard evacuation after a female passenger required urgent care shortly after the vessel left Norfolk, Virginia.

According to accounts shared by passengers on social media, the airlift operation lasted nearly 50 minutes and was carried out in difficult conditions, with winds topping 30 mph and waves of 8 to 10 feet. One guest described the effort as an extraordinary show of skill and precision by the Coast Guard team.

Passenger Karen Swiney said the ship had been bound for Bermuda with an anticipated arrival on Tuesday, September 2. Instead, the evacuation was completed while the vessel was still off the Norfolk coast, forcing the itinerary to shift, with Bermuda arrival rescheduled for Wednesday, September 3.

Swiney commended both the ship’s crew and the Coast Guard for their professionalism and swift response, urging fellow travelers to keep the evacuated guest in their thoughts.

Another passenger confirmed the schedule change, noting the entire itinerary has been pushed back by one day. The Carnival Sunshine is currently operating a six-day roundtrip voyage to Bermuda that began on August 31. Despite the disruption, guests have largely expressed compassion and concern for the passenger’s wellbeing rather than frustration with the delay.