Harsh conditions get stranded cruise passengers additional $500

[FarCenter]

The more than 3,000 passengers stranded on the Carnival Triumph, who are reporting dirty and uncomfortable conditions, will receive an additional $500 per person, Carnival officials announced Wednesday.

...

Additionally, the cruise line decided Wednesday to offer the passengers $500 per person on board. "We know it has been a longer journey back than we anticipated at the beginning of the week under very challenging circumstances," said Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines. "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."

...

The guests aboard the Triumph include about 350 McDonald's employees and their family members, said Dayna Proud, a spokeswoman for the fast food chain. Proud said 285 McDonald's restaurant managers and staff from the greater southwest, Houston and Rocky Mountain areas were on board as part of an incentive program from last summer.

...

On Wednesday, Carnival Cruise Lines decided to cancel 12 more trips for the Triumph. The four-and five-day cruises from Galveston will be canceled between Feb. 21 and April 13. Carnival had previously canceled the next two trips departing on Feb. 11 and Feb. 16 after the ship's propulsion was knocked out Sunday morning.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Carnival-cancels-12-additional-cruises-on-Triumph-4275429.php

[Sherman A1]

1. Oh,

they are going to get much more than that in the end. Conversely Carnival is going to get a huge black eye along with substantial losses. One wonders just how many cruise tickets are being cancelled on their line as I type this response.

[malaise]

3. Just wait for the law suits

American airlines offered passengers money after the crash in Jamaica but people refused and take it from me - they collected way more last year.

[Sherman A1]

6. Precisely

I would reject anything offered, collect my baggage, call my attorney and local television station(s).

[FarCenter]

2. Mobile mayor upset Carnival overlooking city for accommodations

MOBILE, Ala. - Business owners and officials in this city say they are disappointed that Carnival overlooked their community when planning hotels and flights for passengers expected to leave the Triumph Thursday.

Once the fire-disabled cruise ship docks, passengers will have three choices: take a bus direct to Houston and Galveston, take a bus to New Orleans where Carnival has booked hotel rooms and arranged for charter planes, or exit the cruise terminal to make their own way home.

"Those poor people haven't showered in five days," said Maura Garino, vice president of the Holiday Inn Downtown. "Who wants to get on a bus?"

...

Despite feeling snubbed by Carnival, Mobile officials say they are ready to care for the passengers who have had little access to food, toilets and comfort. "We really want the people on that ship to have a good experience in Mobile after all they've been through on that ship," Jones said.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Mobile-mayor-upset-Carnival-overlooking-city-for-4276484.php

[Fumesucker]

5. The windows don't open on those buses

Pack them full of people who have been without bathing for nearly a week and it's going to be breathtaking.

[FarCenter]

4. Boss of Carnival cruise ship adds insult to misery by going to basketball game as 4,000 suffer aboar

Boss of Carnival cruise ship adds insult to misery by going to basketball game as 4,000 suffer aboard 'stinking stricken ship' with urine-soaked carpets and sewage in cabins

As thousands of cruise ship passengers continued to endure a nightmare aboard a broken down ship today, the CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines didn't have a care in the world as he took in a game of hoops.


As his customers suffer through putrid smells and unbearable temperatures, CEO Micky Arison headed to the American Airlines Arena Tuesday to enjoy a different kind of Heat - the Miami basketball team.

Arison, who owns the team, smiled in the stands as LeBron James and company handily defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 117-104.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2277914/Carnival-Triumph-CEO-Micky-Arison-takes-basketball-game-thousands-suffer.html

[shanti]

7. that's how much they gave my son

when carnival cruise lines spilled engine oil on his (and many other passengers') luggage last year. must be the "going rate" for mishaps

[nenagh]

8. I wonder whether some passengers will actually be ill from the lack..

of sanitary conditions on board ship...

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

9. I have taken many cruises, including on Carnival ships

A cruise ship is a self-sustaining unit. There's no power cord to connect it to the mainland or a magical system that delivers power to it. If an engine fails, obviously the plumbing, electricity and other capabilities of the ship will be affected.

Just my 2 cents (or 2 euros)...

When I travel and choose to go on a cruise or on a flight, I know there are certain things that can happen - even if rarely - which may make my travel more inconvenient or dangerous. I know that there are certain things (described in insurance terms as 'acts of God') that could happen. To pretend that things can never go wrong is naive and unrealistic.

On a flight, this would include turbulence, engine problems, crashes, equipment failure, pilot error, acts of violence/terrorism, noisy babies, smelly bathrooms and crappy food, as well as uncomfortable seats and rude passengers/flight crew, etc.

On a cruise ship, this could include engine malfunctions, system failure, drunk captain (see Francesco Schettino), crappy food, rude passengers/crew, drunks, domestic disputes, etc.

While certainly I can sympathize with the passengers and crew aboard the Triumph, at the same time I feel that there is only so much one can do to prevent things like engine fires or failures. The reality is that any system is bound for failure at some point. With the many cruise ships around the world, this is a relatively rare occurrence, the same as with planes having engine failures.

Certainly, it's not fun to be around sewage and feces or eat onion sandwiches instead of lobster and baked Alaska, but unfortunately the ship is in dire straits and there is no other option. Sure, it's nasty and not an ideal way to spend a vacation, but what else can be done realistically? With over 4000 people in the middle of the ocean, it's not possible to swim to shore or to get flown out or ferried out.

The passengers are being refunded the cruise, are getting a free future cruise and an extra few bucks. That's pretty good. Having been on many of these cruises, unfortunately a lot of passengers are very rude to the crew and very inconsiderate around the ship. I have witnessed many episodes of people who were drunk crapping in the hallways, throwing food around, being horrible to non-English speaking crew and being total assholes in general. While I'm sure the conditions are poor, I am equally sure that some passengers are not helping or assisting the crew or other passengers and/or trying to improve the hygiene at all, all the while complaining and thinking about lawsuits.

Other posters have suggested collecting feces and waste in buckets and then throw them in the ocean. This would certainly be a better alternative to crapping in the hallway. Onion sandwiches are not so bad compared to starvation. What are the crew supposed to do? Without refrigeration I'm sure a lot of the food has spoiled. Can you imagine the ruckus if the crew were to serve spoiled food?

I'm not trying to absolve the company or to assume that maintenance or inspection could have not prevented this problem at all, but I do know that people tend to be very naive and fail to realize that things beyond anyone's control do happen.