TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Tallahassee-area cruise passenger is describing the unsettling moment an earthquake struck while his ship was sailing near Cuba, the same quake that was felt across parts of South Florida Monday afternoon.

The 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit on June 9 at around 2 p.m. about 65 miles northwest of Mantua, Cuba, at a depth of over six miles. Officials say there was no tsunami threat and no reported damage, though people across South Florida did report feeling the shaking.

Joe Millender was on board the Margaritaville Islander when it happened, traveling on a cruise that included a stop in Cozumel. He told WCTV the day had been calm until the ship suddenly began to shake.

The 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit on June 9 at around 2 p.m. about 65 miles northwest of Mantua, Cuba, at a depth of over six miles. Officials say there was no tsunami threat and no reported damage, though people across South Florida did report feeling the shaking. (CNN Newsource)

“It was right around 2 o’clock and everything was going well,” Millender said. “All of a sudden the ship started shaking and things falling off the shelves and people kind of grabbing hold of things, trying to hold on.”

Millender said the shaking lasted about 20 seconds, leaving passengers confused and searching for an explanation. At first, many believed the ship may have hit something in the water.

“We thought we had ran aground or wrapped something in a propeller,” Millender said. “The ship was just shaking so bad.”

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Millender said the feeling was unlike anything he had experienced before at sea. While earthquakes are not uncommon in the Caribbean, being on a vessel in open water made it harder to understand what was happening in real time.

Back on land, officials across South Florida monitored the situation and reported no injuries or significant damage tied to the tremors.

For Millender, the brief moment turned into a lasting memory and a reminder that even a routine cruise can take an unexpected turn.