Bill Todhunter and his wife were stunned when they looked out from their backyard in Florida and noticed the huge vessel heading on a collision course with their house.
Todhunter told local media: "I looked up and all I could see was the bow of the vessel, and it was towering over the house.”
Footage shows him frantically waving his arms to get the attention of the captain and prevent a catastrophe.
His wife can be heard screaming "it's too close" as the pair fear the boat will smash into their home.
The millionaire’s amazing waterside house looks over the Port Everglades from his backyard, and he said he regularly saw cruise ships pass by.
But he said Friday night’s experience was a first, claiming the Celebrity Equinox ship got to within 100 feet from his house.
"When the cruise ship's thrusters stopped, there was silence and I yelled, 'Somebody's going to get fired,' and everybody on the cruise started applauding," Todhunter said.
He said the ship was so close, those on board could hear him.
"As Equinox departed on Friday, March 3, she was in her assigned channel at all times under the guidance of specialized local port pilots," Celebrity Cruises said in a statement.
"The ship operated safely and did not put guests or crew at risk. We can also confirm the ship did not touch bottom."
Todhunter contacted the US Coast Guard and said the agency was conducting a full investigation.
Coast Guard Lt. Ryan Kelly said the Coast Guard reached out to the cruise line and the pilots association, both of which said that the ship never grounded and remained in the proper shipping lane, according to the chart plotting system.
Kelly said that it is required by law for cruise companies and cruise captains to report a grounding incident.
The investigation has been closed.
