A Norwegian Cruise Line ship ran aground in the Dominican Republic, but it was a happy reunion for one Orange County family. 

The Norwegian Escape ran aground with more than 4,000 passengers on board after sailing out of Port Canaveral, including one local woman who just returned after the rest of the cruise was canceled.

It was in the main lobby at the Orlando International Airport that Orange County mother Qunicy Green reunited with her daughter as they embraced each other after several of their family members had been stranded in the Dominican Republic. 

It was a happy reunion for this Orange County family Thursday night after their cruise ship ran aground Monday. 

The Norwegian Escape hit the seabed as it pulled away from Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic on Monday, damaging the ship’s hull.

Norwegian released a statement about the incident, saying in part:

“While there is minor damage to the ship's hull, all guests and crew are safe. The current cruise will be shortened.”

Frequent cruiser Green says in her decades of cruise ship vacations, she has never experienced anything like this. 

“I’m a cruiser, I’ve been cruising for about 25 years, never experienced this,” she said. 

She went on to describe some of the chaos before getting a flight back to the U.S. 

“Last night my daughter called for a band-aid and they said, ‘By the way, you are on a flight to get out of here.’ Good thing we already took our COVID tests. So we said, ‘OK, well what time?’ ‘We don’t have any information for you,’” she recounted. 

Travelers like Green will receive a full refund on the aborted cruise, as well as a credit for the same amount to put towards a future voyage.

The Norwegian Escape’s next sail date from Port Canaveral is now canceled so that necessary repairs to the ship can be made.