Once in a Lifetime Adventure: Stranded in Jamaica

Embarking on a voyage aboard a cruise ship is a favored method of vacationing for a once in a lifetime adventure. Journeying to the islands and shores of the Caribbean serves as a perfect retreat from the winter’s cold, providing an opportunity to cherish moments with family and friends. What if your dream vacation didn’t go as planned? It’s normal to expect a few bumps along the way, but what actions would you take if your week-long getaway transformed into seven days of chaos?

My husband and I joined my brother recently as passengers on board the Carnival Magic for a themed cruise named ‘ShipRocked.’ This musical voyage embarked with thirty rock bands, providing daily concerts for an intimate and interactive week-long experience. In addition to the numerous concerts at sea, our itinerary included stops at various ports such as Bimini, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. Unfortunately, the adverse weather conditions we encountered before reaching the port of Miami were merely a foreshadowing of the events that followed.

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Once in a Lifetime

Our weeklong adventure was chaotic before it even begun. We stayed the night in Orlando, then drove four hours to our port in Miami, Florida. We awoke early the morning of our disembarkation to learn that we were under a tornado watch. There was no word of a delay or cancelation, so we made our way to Miami. Other than some heavy rainfall, the weather didn’t impede our travel and by the time we arrived at port the sun was beginning to peek through the clouds.

We boarded the cruise ship, excited for our once in a lifetime adventure. Little did we know that the tornado watch was just a warmup for the weather that we were about to experience. The first announcement once onboard was to take all of the premade schedules and throw them in the trash.

Due to inclement weather heading toward us, our first stop to Bimini was postponed to our last stop and we were now going to spend our first day at sea as we headed to Jamaica to avoid the severe weather. Initially, we were pretty excited about spending our first day sea. We would be able to avoid the weather and spend the first day on our own terms. Perfect!

You Can’t Control the Weather

The first day was a blast and we enjoyed watching a number of different bands. The first night we managed to see six different bands perform, which was exhausting, so we were grateful for a day at sea to sleep in before heading to another marathon of concerts. Most of the bands we wanted to see that day were in the theatre. Lucky for us, because the bands playing on the deck were dealing heavy rainfall. Many concerts were canceled because of it. More than once, we would come to the deck after a theatre concert to find the area flooded. As the day turned to night, the waves began to swell.

We were watching the band Dayseeker when I noticed our boat swaying more in the waves. It got to be too much for me since I was sitting against the wall, so we left their set early and wandered the halls. Walking through the halls, it was very apparent our ship was tilted to the left (portside). I even put my ChapStick on the floor and watched to roll to prove to myself we were indeed tilted. I’m not going to lie; I was a tad bit unnerved. None of the other passengers seemed phased by the tilting, but this is something I would prefer to experience once in a lifetime.

Everything is Okay, I Think?

While we were waiting for the band From Ashes to New to start their set, I was watching the stage lights shaking back and forth, reminding myself everything is fine. Cruises go out to sea in this kind of weather all the time, we made a detour to avoid the severe weather, everything is okay.

This was my mantra the rest of the night.

Don’t get me wrong, the band members had a heck of a time standing while they performed. There was a little stumbling sideways, a microphone went tumbling into the crowd at one point, but they were so casual and funny about it. Little did we know, another rainstorm had come through, canceling the show on the main stage and flooding the deck again.

That night we went to bed earlier to prepare for our excursion in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, the following day. We could feel our ship rocking and crashing into waves the entire night, making it difficult to sleep. When I did sleep, I dreamed that our boat had hit another boat causing damage and flooding. Who would have guessed my dream had foreshadowed future events of a once in lifetime experience?

Jamaica

Our day in Jamaica was… wild. From the time we got up to the time we went to bed, the whole day was a mess. My husband and I had planned a full day of excursions during our trip to Jamaica. This included a visit to the Blue Hole, Tubing, Ziplining and to finish it off with an authentic Jamaican lunch.

At the time we were supposed to meet our party for our excursion, they were not yet allowing us to leave the ship. We had booked our excursion through Carnival, so we knew the excursion crew wouldn’t leave without us. We were worried though that some of our events may need to be cut short.

When we were finally allowed to disembark the ship, we realized what was causing the delay. The waves were rough and unforgiving. Walking across the gangplank was a challenge because the ship was being pulled away from the pier and then would push back in as you were attempting to step off. I had to make a little leap off of the gangplank onto the pier to avoid the gangplank from sliding into me as I stepped off. The waves crashed hard into the shore, sending ocean water and sea life onto the sidewalks. I even found a starfish among the debris.

We were told by the locals that they have not seen the waves this violent in 35 years.

There were already cruise ships at port and people lining up for their excursions, so it was a bit of a cluster. Hundreds of people were herded into a tan building near the dock looking for their excursion group. At one point we overheard a local guide comment that they didn’t think we were going to be able to port. This meant they were scrambling to get everyone where they needed to go.

We eventual found our group and were loaded onto a bus. Then a guide asked for four volunteers to switch to another bus to even out the two-bus loads. We were all going to the same location so, we volunteered to switch buses along with another couple. Instead of giving us back our tickets that had our names on it, they gave us four random tickets for entry onto the other bus. We were now officially lost in the system, and we never saw the people on that first bus again.

Jamaican Excursion

After the chaos of sorting everyone into their excursion parties, we were finally off to our first adventure. Except eight people who were supposed to be with us somehow got left behind. About five minutes into our bus ride, we had to turn around and pick them up. After picking up the rest of the group, we made our way to the first part of our excursion, cliff jumping! No one in our party was aware that we were on a cliff jumping excursion, but we had a good time, nonetheless.

After our surprise cliff-jumping excursion, we returned to the bus and headed to our next event, tubing. We had a blast on the river, made friends, and had a fantastic time.

ShipRocked is Shipwrecked

During our water excursions, we didn’t have access to our phones, so we were completely unaware of what was happening with our cruise ship. It wasn’t until after we had changed into dry clothes and were preparing for the ziplining part of our tour that a member of our party received an alert on her phone.

She showed me the alert, which stated that a person on our cruise had been ELECTROCUTED (it was all caps in the message she received) AND someone had fallen overboard. It was unclear if this was the same person or two separate incidents.

My concerns immediately focused on my brother, who had plans to leave the ship later in the day. With how the ship was rocking in the waves when we left, someone could have easily stumbled walking off the gangplank and fallen. No one had service other than the random message that came through, so calling my brother was not an option.

He didn’t have service on the ship anyway. All we could do was continue with our excursion and hope everyone was okay. Not long after we began ziplining she received another alert; our boat had hit the pier and there was a hole in our cruise ship. ShipRocked was shipwrecked, but we had no idea what that meant. We continued on with our zipline excursion, which was fun but with the recent news, I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Something’s Not Right

After finishing all of our excursions for the day, we loaded back onto the bus and headed to Margaritaville for our Jamaican lunch. The current time was 2:30pm and we are supposed to be back on the ship no later than 3:30pm. That meant we didn’t have a lot of wiggle room to eat lunch. We put our trust in our guide, but even she was starting to look a little nervous. We still had not received any definitive answers on the alerts that our group member had received.

Lunch was served and we watched our guide run around frantically. We didn’t receive anything to drink with our meal, which I found odd. After a busy day in the sun and in the river, a bottle of water would have been nice. Next stop was our ship though, so I didn’t make a big deal out of it. We received our ten-minute warning and made our way to the bus. There were hundreds of people waiting to get on a bus as our guide ushered us back into ours.

Our Day Isn’t Over Yet

After we were on the bus, our guide informed us that our cruise ship had indeed been involved in an incident. Our ship collided with the pier causing extensive damage to the concrete pier. Our ship would now be picking us up at a different location. After we reached our location, we realized we had not been dropped off at another pier.

Instead, we had been dropped off at an Airbnb on the beach.

In the distance, we could see our cruise ship sailing away over the horizon. ShipRocked was shipwrecked and we had been left behind in Jamaica with no cell service, no food, no water, limited shelter and inbound inclement weather.

Our Story

After we were dropped off unceremoniously at an Airbnb beachfront property, all communication and information about what was happening ceased. We only had rumors and speculations. At first, we thought it was just a fun, new adventure. We took silly pictures, wandered around the beach, and chatted with fellow Shiprockers.

We weren’t REALLY stranded in Jamaica because our ship was just moving to a different pier. As the minutes turned to hours with still no idea what was happening, our situation became less fun and increasingly more nerve wrecking.

Plan A

Initially, we were told that the cruise ship was going to anchor off the coastline of the beach and send lifeboats to pick us up. That was why our guides had brought us to this location and not another pier.

Yes, that was actually one of the plans they had to get us all back onboard. My husband and I both had reservations as to how that was going to play out. A storm was rolling in and the waves were increasing in height. How were we supposed to get to the lifeboats? Were they going to come crashing into the shoreline or were we going to have to wade out into the ocean?

The plan to pick us up via lifeboat never materialized and we continued to wait for the next plan of action.

Rumors and Panic

There were hundreds of us wandering around what I now officially call, the compound. The beach property was surrounded by metal fencing topped with razor wire.

The tour guides who had dropped us off had shut the gate and locked us in.

Our cruise ship had changed direction, and we no longer had any communication about what was happening. For perspective, there were hundreds of tourists locked behind a high fence topped with razor wire in a foreign country with a level 3 travel advisory, and night was fast approaching. This is an experience I would prefer not to undergo more than once in a lifetime.

We were all on edge as the hours passed without a clue as to what was happening. Multiple rain clouds had come though leaving us all cold and wet. People were hungry, my husband and I were dehydrated, and there was no information as to how long we were going to be here. Our excursion guides were still out there with us, but they were also not receiving any information and were just as frustrated as we were. One of my biggest concerns was my brother and his whereabouts. I at least had a group, but what had happened to him?

Stranded in Jamaica

I do want to mention our excursion guides and bus drivers at Chukka Adventures were phenomenal during the whole ordeal. They were as in the dark and confused as we were. Their job with us was done, they took us on our excursions. Our ship may have left us stranded in Jamaica, but our tour guides did not. It wasn’t just a crazy day for us, it was crazy for them as well.

I didn’t know this at the time, but we were stranded at a place called the Laughing Waters Villa. Usually reserved for government officials, this house is also frequently rented out for weddings. Also, the beach is famous for its appearance in the first James Bond film, Dr. No. Turns out, we weren’t stranded in Jamaica at a compound, we were on a famous beach! Typically, tourists are not permitted in this area, making this a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity that we didn’t recognize at the time.

Knowing that people were hungry and on the verge of becoming HANGRY, the excursion crew arranged for a catering service to shuttle in food. A whole team of people dressed in vests and bowties arrived to serve KFC to the hungry, stranded tourists. You read that right: Jamaican Kentucky Fried Chicken. As crazy as that may sound, KFC is a big deal in Jamaica, and we were hearing about how awesome it is the entire day. I did not partake in the feast. The sun was setting, and my nerves were shot with worry. I wanted to get back on the boat, but my husband said the chicken was fantastic.

Our Ship Has Docked

At 6:30pm, our ship had safely docked at a nearby pier and was ready for all the passengers to head back to the port. Due to the stormy weather, the ship was unable to safely dock until that time. Now they were ready for all of us stranded in Jamaica to come back, and we were all excited to embark the ship.

We reloaded onto our bus, with a few new faces onboard, and made our way to the pier. As we were heading to the ship, our guide informed us that not only had our cruise ship destroyed a pier, but the waves from the storms washed another pier out into the ocean. It had been quite a day for everyone.

Hurry Up and Wait

We made it back to the pier, jumped off the bus with excitement, just to be told we had to wait. We sat in line outside the ship for another two hours, waiting to board. Some people made the best of it by dancing to the music playing in the parking lot, others had had enough and were yelling at others. People on the boat were signaling us with flashlights from their phones, ready to welcome us back aboard.

I was just anxiously trying to get service on my phone. I had been unable to message my kids all day and I still had no idea where my brother was. Finally, the line started to move, and we made our way back onboard.

We could also see the extent of the damage to the ship.

Back Onboard

After spending an unexpected twelve hours in Jamaica, we were finally back on our cruise ship! I would like to say that this is the end of our crazy adventure and everything from here on out was smooth sailing. Unfortunately, this all happened on the second full day of our vacation. We still had three more days of craziness ahead of us.

Captain’s Announcement

While we were video chatting with our kids, the ship’s captain broadcasted onto the loudspeakers in our room to make an announcement. Normally, announcements are made through the hallway speakers, so if the captain is making an announcement in your room, it’s important. Unfortunately, the announcement was to give us the disappointing news that our stop to the Cayman Islands was canceled. A team of experts had been flown in to assess and repair the damage to the ship. All excursions scheduled at the Cayman Islands would be refunded and we would spend an extra day in Jamaica.

My Brother’s Story

After about an hour of searching the ship, we finally found my brother, and he had his own story to tell. He had plans to disembark the ship and tour Jamaica on his own. He was on deck zero, waiting in line to walk the gangplank. The ship was swaying so much in the waves that they only sent a few people out at once.

He wasn’t far from exiting the ship when ‘Cookie’, the ship’s emcee, ran from the gangplank back into the ship. He told everyone waiting to disembark that they needed to leave this deck right away. My brother stayed on the ship and returned to the upper decks.

Onboard the Ship

From what he told us, a lot of activity was also happening onboard the ship. The crew were all in life jackets and had to meet at their muster stations. Announcements were constantly being made that it was not a drill. The overhead alerts kept the guests left on the ship informed of what was happening.

About one-third of the total guests on the cruise ship were still onboard.

Alerts were being sent to everyone off the ship, but we didn’t have cell service to receive them. I didn’t receive any alerts until we reached Miami many days later. As to the first notification that our party received about an electrocution and someone falling overboard, that remains a mystery. My brother had heard the same rumor, but there was no word where the rumors came from. According to the official reports, there were no injuries during this event.

Another Day in Jamaica

Our ‘extra’ day in Jamaica was required to provide experts the necessary time to complete a thorough assessment of the ship’s damage sustained from the day prior. We were told we could book and pay for another excursion if we wanted. We could also leave the boat on a self-guided tour.  Fool me once. I don’t think many people left the ship that day. Instead, we enjoyed the day back on the boat. We explored the different shops and restaurants, we bought merchandise, we sat in the hot tub, and had a nice relaxing day. After all the excitement from the day before, I preferred to be back on the boat.

The Drama Isn’t Over on Our Once in a Lifetime Adventure

At sunset on our second day in Jamaica, our ship was ready to head back into the open waters. We did see a notification that some flooding had occurred on deck zero in some of the rooms of the cruise staff members. While the staff members had been relocated to other upper deck rooms, the information was unsettling to me as we made our way back out to sea.

I pushed that information out of my mind as we prepared for another day at sea. Early the next morning, around 4:30am, we were awoken by an announcement on the hallway intercom. We couldn’t quite hear what was being said, but we did catch the word, emergency. After spending less than twelve hours sailing out to sea, knowing that repairs were recently made to the ship we are on, which included flooding on the lower deck, this announcement made us nervous.

Early Morning Emergency

All three of us woke up to the first announcement, confused and curious if anyone understood what the announcement was about. While we were discussing, another hallway announcement was made. My husband ran to the door and propped it open so we could hear better. We heard all staff needed to be in life jackets. Do we need lifejackets? Are we sinking?

Not long after the second announcement, a third announcement was made by the captain saying it was a false alarm and there was nothing to worry about. I’m not even sure what I was supposed to worry about. What happened?

We decided to go back to sleep, which didn’t come easy after that scare. We could feel the ship being tossed around by the waves and hear banging noises. I was certain that the ship was sinking, and to prevent panic, the staff would come to our rooms individually and usher us to the lifeboats.

Finally, We Made it to Bimini

After experiencing several days of delay and unexpected events in Jamaica, we finally arrived in Bimini, Bahamas! We had not scheduled any activities in Bimini since we had organized excursions for Jamaica and Cayman Islands. Unfortunately, those plans did not unfold as expected. However, instead of participating in an organized tour, we chose to explore the beach independently and enjoy activities at our own pace.

As we disembarked, we encountered crew members diligently continuing repairs on our vessel. A lifeboat had been deployed to facilitate access to the dents and damaged areas that still required attention. It was disconcerting to know that we had spent the previous day at sea, especially following an emergency alert early in the morning. Although we arrived in Bimini without incident, I cannot shake the feeling that there were occurrences on board of which we were not informed.

The Beach

Unbeknownst to us, Bimini offers a complimentary beach just off the pier. We boarded a trolley that took us to various locations across the island. Despite its proximity to the pier, the free beach was our final destination. As we traversed the sand seeking a place to settle, we quickly understood why there was no fee for this beach. A strong odor of sewage assaulted our senses, and we observed that the beach was situated adjacent to what appeared to be a sewage treatment or processing facility.

The ocean’s waters were clear, prompting us to swim despite the smell. We kept our water shoes on to protect against the numerous shards of broken glass scattered along the shore. Aside from that, our beach time was delightful. We indulged in swimming, searched for seashells, sipped drinks from coconuts, and basked in the pleasant climate.

Journey Home

The remainder of our cruise proceeded without incident. The sea calmed, the storms dissipated, the ship was repaired, and all passengers were accounted for. Upon the following morning, we docked in Miami seamlessly. We disembarked and proceeded to our truck, embarking on a four-hour journey to Orlando.

The journey to Orlando was quiet. Exhaustion had set in for all of us, and my mind grappled with the firmness of the land. Battling with my sea legs was a significant challenge, and a tickle in my throat persisted. Upon our arrival in Orlando and retrieving our children, my struggle continued. The following day, the tickle evolved into a severe cough. Dizziness and fatigue still plagued me. After reading numerous forums of fellow cruise ship passengers, it became apparent that I had contracted the cruise crud, and more specifically, it was likely Covid.

Celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary and enjoying our first vacation without children in nearly ten years, I would say we’ve experienced enough excitement to sustain us for the next decade.

Author’s Note

Everyone’s “Stranded in Jamaica” story from our ShipRocked cruise will differ because we all had different experiences. Not everyone ended up at the Villa with us. Many people ended up at various locations on the island, while others were stuck on the boat. We all ended up with quite a story, and everyone has had a great sense of humor about it. It was, without a doubt, a once in a lifetime adventure.

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