2013 In Review

2013 - Cruise Line Woes

As the year draws to a close, we'll take a look at some of the headlines from the past year. The largest stories in the cruise industry involved disasters in the majority of the cases.

Silversea's Explorer No Match for Mother Nature

Silver Explorer departed Ushuaia, Argentina, in early January, for an 18-night cruise to Antarctica.On January 12th, somewhere between Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctica,  a wave came crashing into the ship's bridge injuring four crew members.   They were treated in the medical center onboard the vessel and according to Silversea Cruises all 133 guests and 113 crew are safe. The incident caused the current and next voyage to be cancelled.  Read more ...

Carnival Triumph Engine Fire

By Mike Brantley | mbrantley@al.com

A small engine fire broke out Sunday morning February 10, 2013, onboard Carnival Triumph while it was about 150 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

The ship’s automatic fire extinguishing systems activated and the fire was contained to the aft engine room. Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries however the ship was adrift for several days without power and hotel facilities functioning.

Carnival Triumph Arrives in Mobile 

  

More Engine Woes for Carnival

Just one month since the Carnival Triumph fire, which left the ship without power and stranded passengers for days, Carnival Corporation had yet another problem with power onboard one of their ships, Carnival Dream.  It was followed by propulsion problems on Carnival Legend. Carnival Cruise Lines President and Chief Executive Gerry Cahill had launched a comprehensive review of its entire fleet, which may have been the reason these problems were discovered.   Eventually all these ships would return to service, but not without impacting passengers and Carnival's reputation. Following the investigation of the Carnival Triumph's fire, several improvements were implemented causing a delay in the Triumph's return to service as well as the re-entry of Carnival Sunshine which was a complete makeover of Carnival Destiny.

Read more about these stories:

• Carnival Triumph & Sunshine Returns Delayed
• Azipod Problems for Carnival Legend
• Let's Pick on Carnival Again
• More Engine Woes for Carnival

To be fair, Carnival wasn't the only cruise line experiencing propulsion problems: Celebrity Millennium Itinerary Change

Fire Onboard Grandeur 
of the Seas

Early Memorial Day morning, a fire broke out onboard Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas while it was sailing in the Bahamas.  The fire caused extensive damage to the aft mooring deck of the ship as you can see in this image courtesy of Royal Caribbean.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the incident and the ship was diverted to Freeport in the Bahamas.   Passengers were awakened and instructed to go to their muster stations.  Read more ...

Severe flooding hits Europe
 
Worse flooding in 70 years hit parts of Central Europe contributing to at least 10 deaths and impacting River Cruising causing cancellations and itinerary changes.

Europe Flooding Impacting River Cruises

Lobsters Keep Cruise Ship from Entering National Park

Celebrity Xpedition Cruises Temporarily Suspended 

Probably the most bizarre causes of cruise itinerary cancellations in 2013 was due to the Galapagos National Park authorities suspending the ship's license when it was discovered that the ship was transporting frozen lobster out of season.  Read more ...

Unexpected Dry Dock Ends Alaska Sailing Season Early

Celebrity Millennium experienced mechanical problems since early August, resulting in the early termination of its latest cruise and cancellation of 4 sailings ending the Alaska sailing season early for the vessel. More details ...



Costa Concordia Parbuckling (Salvage Operations)

Costa Concordia Parbuckling (read more)

This image extracted from a live video of Costa Concordia's Parbuckling Procedure, which began mid-September in Giglio, shows the slow process of righting the vessel.

As of mid-December, the Concordia is stable and being winterized in preparation for the next phase, installation of the 15 sponsons that will be positioned on the starboard side (land side) and the remaining 4 on the right side (sea side) in order to proceed with the refloating phase and have the wreck ready for towing by the end of June 2014.  We will continue to provide updates in our Costa Concordia Salvage Begins article.

As 2013 ends, Captain Schettino is still on trial,  salvage operations are on hold for the winter, and costs are mounting with predictions for insurance payments to exceed $2B.

Cruise Lines Respond to Typhoon Haiyan Disaster

Super-typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane on the U.S. Saffir-Simpson scale, struck central Philippines early  Friday November 8th with sustained winds estimated at 195 mph (315 kph) by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

Many governments and organizations came to the aide of the people of Philippines in the wake of the storm.   Among them were several cruise lines who employee many Filipinos on their staffs, many of whom have been away from their families and friends for many months.  This is a hard time for those separated from their loved ones. More Details ...

Ethiopian 787 Dreamliner Fire Closes Heathrow

Ethiopian Dreamliner Fire at LHR      Courtesy Sky News

London Heathrow Suspended Flights Temporarily

According to London Heathrow airport website, a fire broke out on a parked Ethiopian Boeing 787 Dreamliner causing a suspension in flights in and out of the airport.  As of this writing, there is a resumption of flights, but they are advising you check with your airlines for possible delays.

The good news is that noone appears to have been injured as there were no passengers onboard at the time of the incident.   Several fire brigades responded to the scene and runways were closed while the fire was contained.

UPDATED: 12 July 2013 - 1:45 PM Eastern The runways are now fully re-opened, following an earlier internal fire on-board an aircraft. All arrivals and departures were earlier temporarily suspended while airport fire crews attended to the incident. Flights are now operating, but will be subject to delay. Please check the status of your flight with your airline before travelling to Heathrow. The Metropolitan Police Service have advised that there were no passengers on board and no reported injuries. You can keep up-to-date by following Heathrow on Twitter and Facebook or receive individual flight status updates on the move by using our mobile app or our SMS text service.

Boeing Dreamliner Plagued with Problems

This just adds to the string of problems that have been reported with the new aircraft developed by Boeing.  Earlier this year, the FAA grounded all Dreamliners operated by U.S. companies until they could be deemed safe following problems with the batteries onboard.  Boeing found what it believed was a solution to the problem and flights resumed.

Learn More: Boeing 787 Dreamliner

How Are the Cruise Ship News Stories Impacting Your Plans

VOTE THIS POLL

Cruise Line Cancels Remainder of Cruise ...

Fire Onboard ....

Generator Failed ...

Propulsion Problem ...



These are some of the headlines from this year that have been making the news.  In some cases, several of the stories were from one cruise line (I'm certain you know which one - we don't want to inflict any more pain on their management, employees, or loyal cruisers).

Just today there is news about a UK based cruise line, Voyages of Discovery, who has had to cut their current nine-day Celtic Treasures cruise short due to generator problems.   They were docked in
Killybegs, Ireland when two of their four generators starting having technical problems.   Technicians have been unable to resolve the problem so the line has terminated the cruise there and will fly guests to the disembarkation port of Portsmouth.

Fortunately, in this most recent generator issue, there was no loss of complete power as the two remaining generators could run all the ships functions, however, that would be insufficient to sail.

What Do You Think? 

For us, these news stories don't change any plans that we have for future cruises.  The way we look at it: much like other mechanical items such as cars and planes,  ships can have parts fail and they will do so at the most inopportune time.  There is only so much that can be done to prevent it from happening.

How many airline flights a day are cancelled due to weather or mechanical issues?   They usually don't make the news unless there's some huge number of cancellations, perhaps due to a storm or computer glitch.

Both the airlines and cruise lines are in the business of making money, and moving passengers is the only time when that is possible.  Therefore, it is in their best interest to have their fleets working.   Both sub industries have to adhere to safety and maintenance rules and are under regular review.

The news media does have a flare for hyping certain types of stories.  They do so to increase their following which pays their bills.  

Do the stories have an impact on your vacation plans?  

In the left-hand margin of our blog, we've created a poll to allow you to share your feelings.   We'll run it for several days so that you have an opportunity to vote.   If you have comments, you can share them here or on our Facebook Page.

Fire Onboard Grandeur of the Seas

Grandeur of the Seas Fire     Courtesy Royal Caribbean

Current Cruise Terminated

Cruises Cancelled

Early Memorial Day morning, a fire broke out onboard Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas while it was sailing in the Bahamas.  The fire caused extensive damage to the aft mooring deck of the ship as you can see in this image courtesy of Royal Caribbean.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the incident and the ship was diverted to Freeport in the Bahamas.   Passengers were awakened and instructed to go to their muster stations.   The fire broke around just before 3 AM and was completely extinguished around 5 AM.

Grandeur of the Seas was just refurbished last year.  You may recall that we were onboard the ship for a special Revitalization Debut last November  (search Grandeur of the Seas for articles)

We will continue to monitor this story and report any further developments.  

AP Image of Grandeur Of the Seas in Freeport after fire (click here) shows the extent of the damage.

Grandeur of the Seas Update May 29, 2013, 5:00 p.m.

Click this link for ongoing updates from Royal Caribbean

On Monday, May 27, Grandeur of the Seas experienced a fire in the mooring area in the aft of the ship. Unfortunately, due to the time needed to repair the damage caused by the fire, it is necessary to cancel Grandeur of the Seas' next six sailings. The ship is expected to return to service with the July 12 sailing. Grandeur of the Seas' cancelled sailings include: June 7, 2013 June 14 2013 June 21, 2013 June 28, 2013 July 5, 2013 We are deeply sorry for this unexpected development in our guests’ upcoming vacation. Royal Caribbean International will provide affected guests with a full refund of their voyage. For their convenience, all monies paid will automatically be processed back to the original form of payment within the next three weeks. Guests who are ready to rebook onto a future sailing, and prefer to reapply the funds prior to the refund process being completed, should do so prior to June 12. For guests or travel agents rebooking by June 12, please contact us at 888-824-0012. Otherwise, you may book at your convenience. Royal Caribbean International will also provide these guests with a future cruise certificate for 25% of the cruise fare paid. This certificate may be used for a future cruise on Royal Caribbean International. Guests that have booked with a travel professional should contact their original travel agent with any general questions related to the cancelled sailings. Guests who have booked directly with Royal Caribbean should contact us at 888-824-0012.

May 27, 2013, 8:00 p.m. EST

Grandeur of the Seas – Current Sailing Unfortunately, the damage caused by the fire on Grandeur of the Seas will require us to cancel the rest of the current sailing. We are currently working on making the necessary arrangements to return all guests to Baltimore, Maryland, tomorrow. Royal Caribbean International is deeply sorry for this unexpected development in our guests’ vacation. We understand that this may have been a very stressful time for them. And we also know that it has significantly impacted their vacation experience. We appreciate their patience and cooperation in dealing with this unfortunate situation. Grandeur of the Seas – May 31, 2013 Sailing Unfortunately, due to the time needed to repair the damage caused by the fire, it is necessary to cancel Grandeur of the Seas’ next voyage, which was scheduled to depart Baltimore, Maryland, on Friday, May 31. We are deeply sorry for this unexpected development in our guests’ upcoming vacation. A dedicated telephone hotline has been established for guests on these two sailings. Guests may call us at 1-888-824-0012 in the U.S. or +1-408-916-9000 internationally. We continue to assess the situation onboard Grandeur of the Seas and gather the necessary information in order to make a decision regarding future sailings. We encourage guests on future sailings of Grandeur of the Seas to monitor this website or our Twitter handle @RoyalCaribbean for an update on your voyage.

U.S. Coast Guard Response 

According the the USCG website:   The Coast Guard responded early Monday morning to a fire aboard the 917-foot cruise ship, Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas, 35 nautical miles northwest of West End, Bahamas. At approximately 3 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Miami received a report of a fire aboard a Bahamian-flagged cruise ship carrying 2,224 passengers and 796 crew en route to CoCoCay, Bahamas.

The fire began on the third deck of the aft mooring area of the ship and spread to the fourth deck crew lounge area. Around 5 a.m., the fire was reported to have been extinguished by the ship’s fire response crew.

Coast Guard Sector Miami issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Cormorant, the Coast Guard Cutter Sitkinak, and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered to respond to the emergency. The Coast Guard also launched a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft and a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk to respond.

The cruise ship Carnival Sensation and a motor vessel from the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER), the Hagen, also diverted to stand by and assist if needed.

 The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are joining the flag state to begin conducting a joint investigation of the vessel to determine the cause of the fire.

Carnival Triumph & Sunshine Returns Delayed

Carnival Triumph & 

Carnival Sunshine 

Mechanical Improvements

Carnival Cruise Lines' President and CEO Gerry Cahill announced that Carnival Destiny and Carnival Sunshine will extend their time in drydock in order to complete some extensive mechanical improvements in the wake of the Carnival Triumph fire and subsequent operational review.

The ships will remain out of service longer than expected so the line can increase operating redundancies, emergency power and fire prevention, detection and suppression systems. Cahill had announced the fleetwide operational review at announced during last week's Cruise Shipping Miami tradeshow and this announcement comes right on its heels and the mechanical problem on Carnival Liberty which caused the ship to limp back to port.

Carnival Triumph - 10 Additional Cruises Cancelled
Return to Service now June 3rd

Carnival Triumph now will return to service on June 3, with 10 additional cruises being canceled.

The changes they are implementing are focused primarily on improvements to better support continued power and hotel services should unexpected issues arise. In addition, we are applying new learnings and making enhancements in the area of fire suppression and extinguishing.

For more information about the Carnival Triumph fire and subsequent cancellations, see the following article:
Carnival Triumph Additional Cancellations & Compensation

Carnival Sunshine - 2 Cruises Cancelled Return to Service now May 5th

Carnival Sunshine will now complete the full-ship makeover from the former Carnival Destiny, and will enter service May 5, following the cancellation of two European cruises. For more information about the makeover, see Destiny + 49 Days = Sunshine.

In a news release, Cahill apologized for the additional cancellations but said the line is "fully committed to applying the recommendations stemming from our fleetwide review and to make whatever investments are needed despite the difficult position to impact people's vacations."

“Our team of experts has worked virtually around the clock to determine the best set of solutions and rapidly develop an effective implementation plan for both of these ships,” he continued. “Moving forward, we will have the ability to source materials and schedule improvements much more expediently, thus minimizing the scheduling impact on other vessels. I would like to provide continued assurances that all of our vessels have fully effective safety systems, equipment and training in place. Additionally, our ships receive regular inspections from the U.S. Coast Guard and other regulatory authorities.

Compensation Plan

Guests on the canceled voyages will receive a full refund, reimbursement of non-refundable travel costs, and a 25 percent discount on a future cruise.

“Going forward, the review will focus on the balance of our fleet. While this process will take time, it is our highest priority and has the full support and resources of Carnival Cruise Lines and Carnival Corporation,” Cahill said.

Costs Mounting for Carnival Triumph

A Wave of Expenses

Hitting Carnival

In the middle of Wave Season, typically the heaviest booking quarter of the year, Carnival Corporation is being hit by what must seem like a tidal wave as costs continue to mount in the wake of the latest disaster for the line, the fire February 10th on Carnival Triumph.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation and the cost to repair the ship have not been disclosed, but there have been several other financial impacts that have been identified.

Incident Response

As soon as Carnival Corporation learned of the fire, they mobilized a team of more than 3000 people at their headquarters in Miami, Florida and elsewhere to respond to the situation, coordinating efforts and seeing to the safe return of the ship, passengers, and crew. There were more than 200 staff on hand in Mobile, Alabama to assist in getting the passengers home.

We have just learned that a team of technical personnel and guest services staff that Carnival dispatched to the stricken Carnival Triumph on Monday, February 11 never made it to the ship. Recall that the ship drifted about 90 miles north of Progresso, Mexico. The small chartered boat that was taking the personnel to the ship had to turn back for fear of running out of fuel.

Ships & Boats Responding

The U.S. Coast Guard had Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous on scene from February 11th until the ship arrived in Mobile, AL. Three of the lines ships, Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Legend, and Carnival Elation made stops bringing food and other supplies. The Coast Guard also air-lifted supplies, including generators to supplement the limited power onboard.

Carnival contracted with two tugs initially and added three more to tow the ship back to a port. Initially it was going to be Progresso, Mexico, but as the ship drifted 90 miles without power the destination was changed to Mobile, AL.

Mobile, Alabama Costs

As mentioned there were more than 200 staff on hand in Mobile, Alabama, including CEO Gerry Cahill, when the ship finally arrived in port.  Carnival arranged for buses, hotels, and chartered planes to accommodate the passengers as they disembarked.  The line indicated that more than 1,500 hotels rooms in Mobile and New Orleans had been booked and 10 charter flights had been secured to fly passengers to Houston on Friday.

The City of Mobile and the Port Authority also have their hands out for expense recovery:

The city will charge Carnival for the overtime costs of police, fire and public works employees who put in long hours the Thursday the ship arrived at the Mobile cruise terminal. The city also plans to charge the cruise line a wharfing fee as well as a charge for each passenger who used the gangway that led off the ship and into the terminal. The total cost has not been disclosed at this time.

Passenger Compensation & Lost Revenue

Passengers got a free cruise, most expenses credited, $500 additional reimbursement, and a 25% future cruise credit.  Complete details can be found in Carnival Triumph Additional Cancellations & Compensation

The Carnival Triumph will be out of service for an unknown period of time.  Cancellations have been announced through mid-April, but the down time could be increased depending on the results of the fire investigation and the necessary repairs.

Bottom Line Impact

Financial analysts estimate that the Carnival Triumph’s woes will have a 5-to-10 cents a share impact on CCL stock for this quarter, a sum that includes repairs, reimbursements and lost revenue.

As expected, there already are two suits filed as a result of the Carnival Triumph fire and the events following.  Some experts say that the Carnival (and other cruise line) contract protects the company from being sued, while others indicate it could be possible to make a case against the line.   We suspect that there could be some sort of settlement out of court. 

Reputation & Industry Impact

Despite the media hype surrounding this entire story, it doesn't appear to be having a major impact on the cruise industry.   The cruise industry is well regulated and self-correcting.  Yes, there may be lessons learned from this incident, but safegurds that were put in place, as recently as 2010, contributed to the outcome here, where there was no loss of life or serious injury.  The fire was contained by automatic fire fighting mechanisms which further protected the crew and passengers.

These incidents are rare and the cruise industry enjoys one of the highest safety and approval ratings of any other travel offering. We'll take a closer look at this in another article.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs Bud Darr responded to media statements defending the safety of the cruise industry ships in the wake of the Carnival Triumph fire.

“There's no doubt that cruising is one of the safest, affordable and enjoyable vacation experiences available today, which explains why a record 20.6 million passengers worldwide enjoyed a cruise vacation in 2011,” he said.

There's still a little more than a month left on most of the Wave Season offers, so we recommend taking advantage of them before prices go up. Yes, prices will go up, not just on other lines, but Carnival as well. Carnival Triumph will be out of service, most likely for several months, which will put high demand on the remaining ships for all lines. The rule of supply and demand always impacts the cruise fares and this will be no different.

Note that Carnival Destiny is about to go into a 49 day dry dock for the most complex cruise ship refit ever undertaken by Carnival.

Triumph Fire Investigation

Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard

Carnival Triumph

Fire Investigtion

Launched

Coast Guard investigators from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center and the Investigations Center of Expertise examine the cruise ship Carnival Triumph's engine room, Feb. 14, 2013, to determine the cause of a fire that broke out Feb. 10 and stranded the ship with its passengers for days in the Gulf of Mexico. The results of the joint international investigation may take months, but could possibly help prevent the same type of incident from happening in the future. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Jerry Federer)

The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a fire aboard the Carnival Triumph, that ocurred Sunday, February 10, 2013. Because the Carnival Triumph is a Bahamian flagged vessel, the Bahamas Maritime Authority is the primary investigative agency. In accordance with international guidelines, the U.S. will participate in this investigation as a Marine Safety Investigative State.

Preliminary Results 

In a statement released to the media on Monday by the U.S. Coast Guard, the fire on the Carnival Triumph cruise ship was caused by a leak in a fuel oil return line. The complete investigation will last approximately six months according to the USCG.

The leak appears to have been in an oil return line that stretches from the ship's No. 6 engine to the fuel tank. Based on the ignition marks on the wall, the fire broke out in front of one of three generators in the engine room. It will take at least a week before determining if this was the same generator that had mechanical issues in January.

Legal Proceedings

As the investigation continues, so too begins legal proceedings that seem to follow incidents like this. To date there have been two lawsuits filed by passengers on the Carnival Triumph. We will follow both of these developing stories and update you periodically as information is released to the public.

Carnival Triumph Truth or Dare

Were You There?


For about a week, we have been hearing the media's interpretation of what it was like onboard Carnival Triumph in the aftermath of the engine fire.   This post will bring you stories from people who were there.

In typical fashion, two people on the same cruise, even at the same dining table, could have a different opinion, so you'll just have to make your own judgement calls.

We have been scouring Facebook and other sources for information from people who were actually there.  Here is the start of the story.

If you have pictures, videos, or stories to share, please contact us privately.

From Triumph to Tragedy

Perhaps this video will best depict what it was like, since a picture is worth more than a 1000 words as they say.  Thank you to Lance Winder for making this video and sharing it with the world.

This 6 minute documentary highlights the Carnival Triumph before, during, and after the disaster. From the engine fire at 5:15 AM to 4 days adrift, this short 6 minute film highlights the events of those days. Special thanks to Nine Inch Nails for releasing Ghosts under Creative Commons to enhance the texture.

      From An Agent Escorting a Group 
 
Hello - My wonderful Facebook friends. thank you so much for the thoughtful prayers and kind words. I love you and I am so truly grateful for all of your love and support. Actually.... this event is not as "horrific" as the media is reporting. I led a group of 110 people on the carnival Triumph.. We had an abundance of food - so much - that food was being thrown away. we had grilled shrimp, steak , fresh fruit, vegetables Yes - we had long lines... but people got in line before the meal was served and waited 2 hours before it opened and 30 minutes as it was being served . I always got in line towards the end and never waited - and still was served a full wonderful hot meal. - my choice.... There was never a shortage of water. We had Juice, water and soda available to us at all times - no lines. We had coffee, tea, and hot chocolate everyday , except on Sunday - when the engines caught on fire.

(Editor Note) They went on to say that they had been texting with a news reporter while on the ship and as soon as they said it wasn't as bad as was being reported, the conversation was terminated. We'll let you draw your own conclusions.

Carnival Past Guest Perspective

This is in reply to recent very negative comments about the crew members by one of our local TV stations from one of my clients. While I am devastated at the news of the Triumph cruise ship and all of its problems, I am more concerned about the 1,100 crew members aboard the crippled ship.  Nearly 100% of the crew is of international descent, and they won't be getting off of the boat in Mobile to  take a bus ride or airplane flight anywhere that is home.  Their home is aboard the ship -for a solid 6 months.  They will be the ones left aboard the ship to clean up all of the mess after the passengers debark. For New Year's Eve, I took a cruise aboard the Triumph to Progresso and Cozumel. I was with 5 friends, and had never been on a cruise before this one.  I cannot say enough about the kindness and efficiency of the crew members, everywhere we went aboard the ship.  On the last morning, our party took a "Behind the scenes" tour of the parts of the ship the general public does not see.  We met everyone from the Captain to the head Chef, to the laundry room workers.  Every single crew member was working as hard as they could as expediently as they could, and all the while showing nothing but utmost kindness and hospitality to those of us who were on "vacation."   I know first hand that the crew's quarters are much smaller and less ventilated than any of the passenger rooms, yet they are having to endure the same stench and sewage problems that the passengers are.  They may not be staying in a clean hotel in Mobile tonight; most of those rooms were given to passengers.  The food problems were resolved; no one went hungry.  The lines are long for the deliciously prepared foods when the cruise is perfect, so having a long line for short supplies of food should be expected. I hope that those who have dragged their pillows and mattresses to the decks, or their balcony, realize that those will have to be completely replaced., along with whatever linens have been ruined The upset passengers are trashing the entire boat; instead,  they should be a little more understanding of the dire straits that everyone is in.  Those poor crewmen are having to tend to all of the passengers, many times ignoring their own inconveniences, illness and pain. My heart goes out to everyone aboard the Triumph, and I am thankful that there were no serious injuries.  If I were a passenger today, I would be very grateful that the Carnival parent company refunded the entire cost of my cruise, especially since I was less than 12 hours from the end of it.  I would be eternally gratefull that they expunged my "Ship & Sail" card and that I received an additional cruise voucher.  I am sure there are plenty of other gestures as well that the company is doing to help the stranded passengers. Again, though, I am more worried about the condition of the crew and staff.  The next several cruises aboard the Triumph have been cancelled, and they are out of a job.  No job means no income.  I hope that you will turn a 'victim/passenger' story into an empathetic compassionate outreach for those crew members.

Carnival Triumph Arrives in Mobile

By Mike Brantley | mbrantley@al.comPress-Register

Carnival Triumph Arrives in Mobile:

Gerry Cahill, Carnival CEO said:

First, I'd like to start with saying how very thankful we all are that the ship is alongside and everyone is safe. I am so appreciative of the efforts of everyone involved in bringing the Carnival Triumph safely to the Port of Mobile.

I want to thank the United States Coast Guard, The Port and City of Mobile, Customs and Border Protection, and the countless other parties who have been incredibly helpful throughout.

I’d also like to thank our shoreside teams for working around the clock to make this happen. And finally, I want to thank our crew for all they have done. We have seen and heard so many reports, online and in the media, from passengers praising the crew’s hard work.

I am now going onboard to talk with our guests and crew, as well as to help with getting our guests off the ship and on their way home. Thank you.

Passengers Disembark Ship

It took several hours for the passengers to disembark the crippled Carnival Triumph when it finally docked in Mobile, AL. The horrific five days at sea were now over. As expected passengers were emotional, some kissing the ground as they got off the ship. There were about 100 buses lined up ready to take the passengers to New Orleans or Houston. Some passengers had people meet them and they stayed in Mobile rather than take a long journey on a bus.

For the passengers, the ordeal is over, but for the crew, the nightmare continues as they will now have the task of cleaning up the trashed ship. They won't be seeing their families or taking hot showers. Carnival hasn't mentioned if they'd get an extra $500 in their paychecks for the long hours they've put in enduring the same or worse conditions as the passengers. Our hats are off to the crew for a job well done doing their best to take care of the passengers during this extraordinary cruise.

 Click Here for Photos of the Stranded Ship at Sea

Carnival Triumph Arrives By Mike Brantley | mbrantley@al.com

Carnival Triumph Additional Cancellations & Compensation

Carnival Triumph Under Tow Courtesy USCG

Looks Like Pleasant Sunrise

Carnival Triumph is seen in the distance in this early morning photo.   At first it looks like a pleasant sunrise, but there is more behind this image captured by U.S. Coast Guard  Ensign Chris Shivock in the Gulf of Mexico.

The tugs Resolve Pioneer and Dabhol tow and steer the 893-foot Carnival Triumph cruise ship Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2013, enroute to Mobile, Alabama after being disabled by an engine fire early Sunday morning.

For fire details & continuing coverage, see our anchor article:
Carnival Triumph Engine Fire 
 
Upcoming Voyages

Carnival Cruise Lines has also announced the cancellations of 12 additional voyages of the Carnival Triumph. The 12 cancelled cruises, which encompass sailings from Feb. 21 through April 13, 2013, are in addition to two previously cancelled voyages scheduled to depart Feb. 11 and Feb. 16.
 
UPDATE: 10 Additional Cruises Cancelled
Return to Service now June 3rd  

Carnival Triumph & Sunshine Returns Delayed

Additional Compensation  

Latest Update on Carnival Triumph February 13, 2013 – 5:45pm EST

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced further compensation for the passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph, currently being towed via tug boats to Mobile, Alabama after an engine room fire early Sunday caused a loss of propulsion.


As previously announced, all 3,143 guests  on the affected sailings will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, as well as non-refundable transportation costs, pre-paid shore excursions, gratuities, and government fees and taxes. Guests will also receive a 25 percent discount on a future three- to five-day Carnival cruise or a 15 percent discount on a six- to seven-day cruise. Travel agent commissions will be protected.
 
All guests on the current voyage will receive further compensation of $500.00 per person.

Gerry Cahill, President & CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines said: “We know it has been a longer journey back than we anticipated at the beginning of the week under very challenging circumstances. We are very sorry for what our guests have had to endure. Therefore, in addition to the full refund and future cruise credit already offered, we have decided to provide this additional compensation. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Mobile tomorrow and have mobilized our full resources to assist and support them as they travel home.”

Carnival sincerely apologizes for this disruption in our guests’ vacation plans.

Carnival Triumph Statement

U.S.C.G. photo by Lt. Cmdr. Paul McConnell

CARNIVAL TRIUMPH
STATEMENT FROM GERRY CAHILL, PRESIDENT & CEO, CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

February 11, 2013, 8:30pm ET

The Carnival Triumph, while on a four-day cruise that departed Galveston last Thursday, experienced an engine room fire on Sunday morning and has been without propulsion in the Gulf of Mexico since that time. The ship’s automatic fire extinguishing systems activated and the fire was successfully extinguished. Fortunately, there were no injuries to guests or crew members.

Earlier this evening, the first of two tugboats arrived and is tied up to the ship with the second expected in the early hours of Tuesday morning. We had originally planned to tow the ship to Progreso, Mexico, the closest port to the ship’s location early Sunday. Since that time, the ship has drifted about 90 miles north due to strong currents. This now puts the ship nearly equidistant to Mobile, Alabama and given the strength of the currents, it is preferable to head north to Mobile, rather than attempt to tow against them. We now expect to arrive in Mobile sometime on Thursday, roughly the same time the ship would have arrived in Progreso given the distance the ship has traveled. From there, we will provide the necessary transportation to get our guests home. Mobile also provides simpler re-entry, particularly for the 900 guests onboard traveling without passports.

We have maintained constant contact with the ship’s officers. All of our guests are safe, and we’re doing everything we can to make them as comfortable as possible. The ship has maintained emergency generator power since the fire occurred and the technical team on board has been successful in gradually restoring auxiliary power to operate some basic hotel functions. Currently, public and cabin toilets are operational in certain sections of the ship, power has been restored to a limited number of elevators, and some power in the Lido dining area is providing for hot coffee and limited hot food service.

All guests on the current Carnival Triumph voyage will receive a full refund for the cruise, along with transportation expenses. In addition, they will receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount paid for this voyage, as well as reimbursement of all shipboard purchases during the voyage, with the exception of gift shop and casino charges.

We’re terribly sorry for the inconvenience, discomfort, and frustration our guests are feeling. We know they expected a fantastic vacation, and clearly that is not what they received. Our shipboard and shoreside teams are working around the clock to care for our guests and get them home safely.


Photo Credit: 

GULF OF MEXICO - The Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous stands by to assist the cruise ship Carnival Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico, Feb. 11, 2013. The Carnival Triumph lost propulsion power after an engine room fire Feb. 10, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. Paul McConnell.

Carnival Triumph Engine Fire

No Casualties or Injuries

A small engine fire broke out Sunday morning onboard Carnival Triumph while it was about 150 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

(Source: Carnival Cruise Line Facebook Page)

The ship’s automatic fire extinguishing systems activated and the fire was contained to the aft engine room. At this time, the fire is fully extinguished.

Carnival reported that no casualties or injuries to guests or crew have been reported.  

Running on Emergency Power  

The ship is currently without propulsion and is operating on emergency generator power while the ship's technical crew assesses the damage and attempts to restore power. In the meantime, a tugboat is being dispatched to the ship's location in the event it is needed. All appropriate authorities including U.S. Coast Guard have been notified

There are 3,143 guests and 1,086 crew on board and all guests have been asked to remain in the ship’s public areas and open decks for their comfort. Guests are being provided with food and refreshments, and all guests on the current voyage will receive a full refund inclusive of gratuities and any transportation expenses.


Voyages Impacted

Carnival  Triumph is currently on a four-day cruise that departed Galveston, Texas on Thursday. Carnival has contacted guests booked on the next voyage which was scheduled to depart tomorrow to make them aware of the situation and advise that tomorrow’s voyage will not depart as scheduled. Guests have the option of cancelling now and receiving a full refund or waiting for further information to determine if a shortened, partial voyage may be possible. 


UPDATED: 11 Feb 2013

The ship's technical crew has determined the vessel will need to be towed to port. A tugboat is en route to the ship's location and will tow the vessel to Progreso, Mexico, which is the closest port to the ship’s current location. This will enable us to disembark guests and get them home as quickly as possible. The ship is expected to arrive in Progreso Wednesday afternoon and guests will be flown from there back to the U.S. 

All guests on the current Carnival Triumph voyage will receive a full refund of the cruise, along with transportation expenses. In addition, they will receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount paid for this voyage, as well as reimbursement of all shipboard purchases during the voyage, with the exception of gift shop and casino charges.

The next two voyages of Carnival Triumph, scheduled to depart Monday, February 11 and Saturday, February 16 are being cancelled. Guests scheduled to sail on either of those voyages will receive a full refund, reimbursement for non-refundable travel expenses and a 25 percent discount on a future three to five-day cruise. Carnival is in contact with impacted guests to advise them of the situation.  

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Dwayne Bradley

GULF OF MEXICO - The Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous stands by to assist the cruise ship Carnival Triumph in the Gulf of Mexico, Feb. 11, 2013. The Carnival Triumph lost propulsion power after an engine room fire Feb. 10, 2013.

Carnival Triumph Statement (President & CEO Gerry Cahill releases statement)

Tugs Tow Triumph to Mobile 

After drifting without power some 90 miles due to strong currents, Carnival has opted to tow the disabled ship to port in Mobile, Alabama instead of Progresso, Mexico as originally planned.  That decision was announced Monday at 9:15 PM Eastern by the line.   It simplifies two problems - towing against a strong current and getting 900 people without passports back to the United States.
We'll talk about the latter topic in a separate column: Why We Recommend Passports

UPDATED: 12 Feb 2013

Carnival Triumph is on the move under tow by two tugboats.   She is racing along at about 7 knotts (about 8 MPH) and should arrive in Mobile Thursday afternoon.   Limited onboard systems remain functional according to Carnival with periodic problems with the sewage system.  The entertainment staff is doing what they can with activities planned to keep passengers entertained.  Meals and refreshments are being provided poolside in the grille which remained open the majority of the day yesterday and was open early this morning.

Passenger accounts are reporting poor conditions onboard as minimal power prevents systems from functioning.  

Return Travel Arrangements

Carnival Cruise Lines' President and CEO Gerry Cahill address reporters regarding Carnival Triumph during a press conference at the company's headquarters in Miami. 
 
"No one here from Carnival is happy about the conditions aboard ship… there is no question that conditions onboard are very challenging. Most of the public bathrooms, there are 23 public bathrooms, most of them are working," he said during a news conference in Miami. There is also a "good section" of passenger cabins, in the forward and midship sections of the ship, that are working.  



More than 1,500 hotels rooms in Mobile and New Orleans have been booked and 10 charter flights have been secured to fly passengers to Houston on Friday. For passengers with cars at the port of Galveston, buses have been arranged to bring them back.

Carnival is in the process of securing buses for a Thursday evening transfer from Mobile to Houston or Galveston for passengers who would rather get home sooner, Cahill said. 

UPDATED: 13 Feb 2013

Triumph Voyages cancelled through April 13, 2013
Additional Compensation for Guests

Carnival Triumph Additional Cancellations & Compensation 
 

UPDATED: 14 Feb 2013

Another setback for passengers aboard the stricken vessel.  Once again the ship is adrift because of a broken tow line.   Until the tow line can be repaired, the ship will not be underway again.   The ship is scheduled to arrive late tonight in Mobile, Alabama where passengers will board buses either to a hotel or back to Houston.

Passenger discontent appears to be growing as the situation with limited food, water, and toilets lasts even longer.   Pictures posted on the internet show passengers with make-shift signs asking for Help.

Carnival has deployed more than 200 staff to assist in getting the passengers home.

UPDATE FROM CARNIVAL's Page:

Earlier today additional provisions and another generator were delivered via helicopter, to aid in the addition of more hotel services on board.

The Carnival Triumph is currently just outside the mouth of the channel and is expected to enter shortly. Local pilots and other officials have boarded. While this trip could be accomplished in about 3 hours with power, under the circumstances today we expect this to take anywhere from 7 – 10 hours.

We’ve coordinated the arrival process with the Coast Guard and Port Authorities. Two hundred team members were mobilized to be here to assist with the arrival and travel plans for our guests as they debark the ship.
 

U.S. Coast Guard Provides Additional Aid

A Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile MH-60 helicopter crew transported approximately 3,000 pounds of equipment, which included a generator and electrical cables, from the offshore supply vessel Lana Rose to the Carnival Cruise Ship Triumph Wednesday afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico.  The generator will be used to help provide additional power to the cruise ship.

Third Tug Boat Enroute
Carnival has dispatched a third tugboat to assist in towing Carnival Triumph to port. The tugboat is currently en route from Port Fourchon, Louisiana and is expected to arrive at the ship this evening to further support the vessel’s return to Mobile, Alabama on Thursday. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to be on the scene as the ship is in tow.
 

Contact Information

Carnival has contacted the designated emergency contacts for all guests on board. Concerned family and loved ones of guests and crew may call 888.290.5095 or 305.406.5534

We will provide updates as further details are released.  We are happy that emergency equipment functioned and that there were no injuries or casualties resulting from this incident.   

Timeline & Updates
 

10 Feb	Sunday Morning	Small Engine Fire Breaks Out & is Extinguished
10 Feb	All Day	Services knocked out; passengers confined to open decks
11 Feb	12:45 AM EST	USCG Vigorous onsite to assist
11 Feb	06:00 AM EST	Freshwater system; forward sewage, some power restored
11 Feb	Monday Morning	Carnival Elation offloaded food and water
11 Feb	03:00 PM EST	Carnival Legend arrives with food; transports patient needing dialysis
11 Feb	05:00 PM EST	Limited onboard systems restored; passengers return to cabins
11 Feb	Monday Evening	First of two tugboats arrive on scene
11 Feb	08:30 PM EST	Triumph will be towed to Mobile, Alabama, instead of Progreso, Mexico
11 Feb	10:00 AM - 10:00 PM	Meals & refreshments served at poolside grille
12 Feb	7:00 AM	Poolside grille open again for meals & refreshments
12 Feb	Tuesday Morning	Second tugboat arrived early in the morning
12 Feb	10:00 AM EST	Carnival Triumph under tow to Mobile (speed 7 knots)
12 Feb	Tuesday Evening	President and CEO, Gerry Cahill addresses media (watch video above)
13 Feb	2:30 PM EST	Third tugboat enroute to Triumph from Louisiana
13 Feb	2:30 PM EST	USCG Helicopter brings  generator and other supplies
13 Feb	5:45 PM EST	Additional cancellations and compensation announced
14 Feb	Thursday afternoon	Tow line breaks - ship is afloat until it can be repaired
14 Feb	Thursday afternoon	USCG medevacs female passenger who suffered stroke
14 Feb	4 PM EST	Tow line repaired and ship on the move
14 Feb	9 - 11 PM EST	Triumph expected to arrive in Mobile, AL
14 Feb	11:30 PM EST	Carnival Triumph is alongside pier in Mobile, AL

All Carnival Triumph guests should be back home with friends and family by now other than those who opted to stay a little longer in New Orleans and Galveston. Crew will be making their way to other ships or back to their homes over the next few days.


Related Posts:

• Why We Recommend Passports
• Carnival Triumph Statement
• Carnival Triumph Additional Cancellations & Compensation
• Carnival Triumph Arrives in Mobile  
• Carnival Triumph Truth or Dare
• Triumph Fire Investigation  
• Costs Mounting for Carnival Triumph

Allure Adds to 2012 Mishaps

Allure of the Seas

Minor Engine Fire

The year 2012 continues to have its share of cruise ship mishaps.   Friday, while on its way back to its homeport of Port Everglades, Florida, Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas experienced a small, short-lived engine fire.  There were no injuries as a result of the fire.  It broke out around 7:45 PM according the the cruise line.


High-tech Fire Protection


Allure of the Seas, weighing in at 225,282 Tons and accommodating up to 6,360 Passengers, along with her sister ship Oasis of the Seas, is the largest cruise ship in the world.   The ship was built with state-of-the-art features, which played a key role in this event. The ship's high fog system was immediately activated, which contained and extinguished the fire.

Allure of the Seas continued under its own power from St. Maarten and is expected to arrive in Fort Lauderdale on schedule Sunday.   The ship sails 7-night Caribbean itineraries each week.

Related Blog Posts:

Powering the Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas Construction Update 

We are happy to hear the no crew or passengers were injured in the incident.  There have been no reports of upcoming delays or cancellations in connection with the engine fire, but we will keep watch for any breaking news.

Azamara Quest Resuming Cruises

Azamara Quest

April 24 Sailing

An engine fire on March 30, 2012, suspended cruises on Azamara Quest until the damage could be repaired.  Read more...
Azamara Quest Engine Room Fire

Azamara Quest departed Singapore and is currently in route to Mumbai (Bombay), India. Azamara Quest is expected to arrive in Mumbai in time for its next scheduled sailing on Tuesday, April 24.

14 Night Eastern Mediterranean - Itinerary

Azamara Quest's return to the sea begins with a pre-voyage stay in Mumbai, the India of entrepreneurs, Bollywood films, beautiful temples and grand colonial architecture. Then it’s time to relax at sea, enjoying an array of spa services and evenings of leisurely dining and onboard entertainment. A late night stay in Safaga lets guests visit the great temple complex in Karnak and the Valley of the Kings where Tut’s tomb was discovered.

The ship has an overnight stay in Aqaba, Jordan where one can visit the ancient rose-red city of Petra, filled with stunning architecture. In Sharm El Sheikh, guests can explore the famous coral reefs or visit St. Catherine’s Monastery to view priceless early Christian art and manuscripts. The voyage ends in Sokhna, close to Cairo’s treasures, including the pyramids.

Azamara Update on Injured Crew Member

"We are pleased to report that the condition of the Azamara Quest crew member that was more severely injured continues to improve. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our crew member and his family. Azamara Club Cruises would like to thank everyone for their thoughtfulness and concern regarding our injured crew member."

Many of you have asked for a way to make a donation to assist our injured crew member. If you would like to make a donation, please make the check payable to Azamara Club Cruises, write "Crew Donation/Azamara Quest" on the memo field, and mail to the address below. One hundred percent of all contributions will go directly to the fund we have set up for our injured crew member.

Dorothy Aloma
Azamara Club Cruises
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132