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.

MSC Opera Loses Power

MSC Opera Bridge View                Credit: MSC Cruises

Electrical Power Problem 

Disrupts MSC Opera's Baltic Cruise

UPDATE: May 17th - Guests Disembark and Return Home from Stockholm, Sweden
MSC Opera will resume service next week, on Friday May 27^th, cruising from Southampton on a beautiful 8 night Norwegian Fjords cruise.  

MSC Cruises would like to once again thank the Stockholm Port Authorities for their efficient cooperation in assisting both the company and its guests and would like to apologize for any inconvenience experienced. 

UPDATE:  May 16th - MSC Opera's May 17th Cruise Cancelled

Despite having the majority of power restored, MSC Cruises has cancelled the next scheduled cruise so that technicians from STX Europe and the cruise line can examine the electrical system and determine the cause of the failure.   Impacted passengers will be contacted and offered compensation.

Read More:  UPDATE MSC OPERA TECHNICAL ISSUE

MSC Opera lost power Saturday following problems with one of its electrical panels.  The ship was in the midst of  a 10-night Baltic sailing out of Southampton, England when trouble began.

According to a statement from the line, tugboats will assist the 58,600-ton, 1,756-passenger ship, which has been diverted to the port of Nynamshamn, Sweden.  The photo above, from MSC's website, shows  a view from the bridge with tug boat guiding the ship.


Details are sketchy at this time, but it appears that the electrical problem has knocked out at least half of the ship's power, causing a disruption in toilet facilities and hot food service.  The situation sounds very similar to the incident that left Carnival Splendor without power last fall, however in that case, there was a fire.  There is no indication that a fire occurred on MSC Opera.

The statement indicated that passengers onboard the Baltic cruise would be issued a future cruise credit, in the same amount, that could be applied to another sailing through December, 2012.   There is no word yet about MSC Opera's next sailing, which is scheduled to depart next Tuesday.


We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as new information is made available.

Assisting Carnival Splendor

101109-N-3570S-216 SAN DIEGO (Nov. 9, 2010) Sailors from Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 30 load meat, bread and plastic dinnerware into C-2A Greyhound logistics aircraft at Naval Base Coronado. VRC-30 is transferring the supplies to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), which will deliver them to the Carnival Splendor, a cruise ship stranded about 250 miles off California. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Petty Officer Jeremy M. Starr/Released)

Click for Additional Pictures courtesy of U.S. Navy

USS Ronald Reagan
Provides Assistance
to Carnival Splendor

At the request of U.S. Coast Guard District 11 in San Diego, 3rd Fleet has diverted USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Nov. 9 from its current training maneuvers to a position south near the Carnival cruise ship C/V Splendor to facilitate the delivery of needed supplies.

According to U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs,"An expected total of 35 pallets of supplies will be transferred Nov. 9 from Naval Air Station North Island aboard Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 carrier on-board delivery aircraft beginning at 0700 PST to Ronald Reagan. Once aboard Ronald Reagan, the supplies will be delivered with a helicopter to C/V Splendor".

Carnival Splendor courtesy U.S. Navy

UPDATE NOVEMBER 9 (8:15 PM Eastern)

Carnival Cruise Line indicates that the first tug boat has reached the Splendor and towing operations have begun.

TOWING TO SAN DIEGO

Carnival has decided to take the vessel to San Diego where it is expected to arrive late Thursday.  Hotel and flight arrangements are being made for the ship's guests. If the ship is unable to maintain sufficient speed under tow, the original plan, to dock in Ensenada, could be reinstated.


The ship’s engineers were able to restore toilet service to most cabins and all public bathrooms, as well as cold running water.  Currently several key hotel systems, including air conditioning, hot food service and telephones, are not available.  The ship’s crew continues to actively work to restore other services. 

Guests are able to move about the ship and food and beverage service, along with some shipboard programming, including children’s activities and entertainment, are being provided. 


NEXT CRUISE CANCELLED


Carnival has also made the decision to cancel the November 14 seven-day cruise from Long Beach.  Guests scheduled to sail on this voyage will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and air transportation costs, along with a 25 percent discount on a future cruise. 


Carnival Cruise Line Update on Carnival Splendor



Related Blog:  Carnival Splendor Without Power After Engine Fire

Stay tuned for more updates as information becomes available