Tugboats are towing the Carnival Triumph cruise ship to Mobile, Ala. Passengers were reporting long lines and miserable conditions.
By Hugo Martin
February 13, 2013, 12:24 p.m.
The engine fire that disabled a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico will certainly cost the cruise line money but it is unclear if it will tarnish its reputation in the long run.
The fire broke out Sunday, leaving the Carnival Triumph without propulsion and power for some bathrooms, elevators and kitchens. The ship, carrying more than 3,000 passengers and 1,000 crew members, is being towed by three tug boats to Mobile, Ala.
Carnival has announced it will reimburse passengers for the cruise fare, transportation costs and other expenses and has also canceled 14 future sailings of the Triumph through April.
[Updated, 3:03 p.m., Feb. 13: Carnival announced Wednesday that it would pay each passengers on the Triumph an additional $500 to compensate them for their troubles.]
Carnival Corp., the parent company of Carnival Cruise Lines, estimated Wednesday that the cancellations and Triumph's repair costs will result in an $0.08 to $0.10 earnings per share drop in the first half of the year.
Carnival Corp.'s shares are already taking a hit.
The incident is only the latest mishap for Carnival in the past few years. In 2010, an engine fire also cut power to the Carnival Splendor during a cruise to the Mexican Riviera.
Carnival Corp. is also the parent company of an Italian cruise line that operated the Costa Concordia, which wrecked in the Italian coast last year, drowning 32 passengers and crew.
On the Carnival Triumph, passengers who have contacted family and friends via emails and texts say they were standing in long lines for food and to use toilets. Some slept on the deck to get relief from the heat in the cabins. Others used plastic bags when bathrooms were disabled.
On social media, reaction on the Carnival Triumph news was mixed.
Stewart Chiron, a cruise expert who writes for the cruiseguy.com website, said he doesn't expect the latest incident to hurt Carnival's reputation or future cruise sales.
"It's a crummy situation but I personally think Carnival is doing a good job handling it,” he said.
I have been Cruising Carnival for 8 years, and I ejoyed each of the Ships that I sailed on. I am saikling once again on March 1st. I am not apprehensive. I am in balcony room, and I am bringing a "POCKET FISHERMAN" with 299 ft. of line with me so in case of an emergency, I won't go hungry.
lbjack at 4:36 PM February 13, 2013
Carnival Cruises is a nasty operation. Look at its history of disease, fires and sinkings. They hire the cheapest personnel and cut corners wherever possible. When one of their ships sank in the Mediterranean, last year, they offered the survivors a discount on a future cruise. Carnival's owners, the Arisons, compare unfavorably to the Kardashians.
tim.anderson.h at 3:32 PM February 13, 2013
If I walked into a large hotel lobby, no matter how nicely decorated, how many good eatries, and attentive staff,,, I would still be nervous if they LOCKED THE DOOR BEHIND ME.
That is the cruise industry in a nutshell. You pay to be their hostage for the duration of the cruise.
If you trust corporations that you don't know, you get whatever they give. You should think about this before you book. Some are good, some not so good. You are a number to them, you represent profit or liability. (depending on how well their do their job.)
Enjoy at your peril.
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