Fire Aboard Carnival Triumph

[rafinmd]

The only good news is that because of the currents, the ship will be towed back to the states so no passport worries.

 

 

Technically, since the ship left Galveston and returns to Mobile a birth certificate is not legally significant, but I'll bet special provisions are being made. I wonder if Carnival is getting hit with $300 pp for PVSA. Inquiring minds want to know things that are really none of my business.

 

Roy

[Cindy]

I agree.

As this has been happening more lately, I feel the problem is no proper maintenance is being given to ALL of these cruise ships which run 24/7 year after year, and when they go to drydock all attention is first made to add another fee venue or restaurant, and engine & infrastructure second.

 

As the majority of the ships are getting 'older' and maintanance is not priority one this will be happening more often JMHO.

 

You bring up a valid point...cruise ships live a "hard life," and it's possible that more frequent mechanical inspections and maintenance are in order.

I worry a little bit that both of these "dead in the water" ships came from Fincantieri and were of a similar basic design...as are many HAL, Princess, and Costa ships.

[CoronaCRZR]

You bring up a valid point...cruise ships live a "hard life," and it's possible that more frequent mechanical inspections and maintenance are in order.

 

I worry a little bit that both of these "dead in the water" ships came from Fincantieri and were of a similar basic design...as are many HAL, Princess, and Costa ships.

 

 

Yes, you are correct, cruise ships live an extreme hard life and need TLC to keep them going strong, I am not so sure Fincantieri has such stellar builds JIMO.

[NoWhiners]

I was talking to my hubby last night (he is an engineer) and we don't get why power affects toilet operation? Something to do with pumping water (but I thought toilet operated by gravity?)? having enough water to flush? and if previous post is correct, why is it Ok to pee in sinks or showers but not toilet? Doesn't all the waste go to the same place?

 

does anyone know? Hubby would be very pleased to understand this!!

 

ML

[sapper1]

I was talking to my hubby last night (he is an engineer) and we don't get why power affects toilet operation? Something to do with pumping water (but I thought toilet operated by gravity?)? having enough water to flush? and if previous post is correct, why is it Ok to pee in sinks or showers but not toilet? Doesn't all the waste go to the same place?

 

does anyone know? Hubby would be very pleased to understand this!!

 

ML

 

The toilets operate on a vacuum system and it takes power to run it.

[sppunk]

A listing ship with overflowing toilets and no running water is a recipe for major illness outbreaks. They have limited food and sanitation is I'd assume virtually impossible. Reports say fights are happening over the limited hot food.

 

They still have two days if this too. This seriously has me questioning whether a cruise vacation is a gamble I want to risk.

 

My heart goes out to everyone on Triumph, especially the crew who are fighting to do their best I'm certain to keep order.

[sail7seas]

I get anxious just thinking what those crew and guests are enduring. The conditions have to be awful.

 

Thankfully it seems no one has been hurt that we know of and that is the best news. None of the other news is so good to hear.

Liquor would not be good in this situation. IMO

[jtl513]

I was talking to my hubby last night (he is an engineer) and we don't get why power affects toilet operation? Something to do with pumping water (but I thought toilet operated by gravity?)? having enough water to flush? and if previous post is correct, why is it Ok to pee in sinks or showers but not toilet? Doesn't all the waste go to the same place?

 

does anyone know? Hubby would be very pleased to understand this!!

 

ML

As Sapper1 said, it takes power to create sufficient vacuum for the toilets ... gravity is not enough. Pee in a toilet would just sit there stagnant while pee in a shower or sink drains by gravity to waste tanks.

[sandij]

And there's a cold front coming down the Gulf this week----with rain.

[sail7seas]

By the time these poor people get back to their homes, they are going to be totally wiped. I feel particularly bad for the disabled and elderly with little excess stamina. Miserable situation and Carnival just has to do better than this.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

This whole situation mirrors exactly what happened a few years ago on the Carnival Splendor, although that ship had absolutely no electric so no elevators, no hot food and not one toilet. They were on the first sea day of a 7 day cruise when it happened and they did not get towed into San Diego till Friday so they went from Sunday night till Friday when they arrived. Of course the Splendor was a slightly newer ship and larger with more passengers but the stories we are hearing about this situation is actually far more severe than what happened on the Splendor. People stayed calm there were not the stories of fights while they did have the bad smells I don't think the situation was nearly as bad on board. I know that at the time a lot of credit was given to John Held who was the Cruise Director at the time who kept the passengers entertained. One has to wonder why the situation has turned far more ugly. At the time of the Splendor fire they only had the US Coast Guard bringing them supplies and not other cruise ships in the area.

[sail7seas]

I well remember Splendor and speculate this time the situation has turned uglier, if the reports we hear are to be believed ..... IMO because of the repetitiveness of Carnival having 'incidents'. When the red whale's tail on those ships keep showing up on news reports with horror stories, people remember.

 

Carnival is not 'looking good'. People remember!

 

[sppunk]

... Carnival just has to do better than this.

 

I am no Carnival fan, but what would you recommend them do that they didn't? Not flaming, just honestly curious!

 

Transferring all pax via lifeboats is extremely dangerous and likely a bigger risk than reward. Helicoptering off pax would be an option but with 3,000 individuals and so far from land that's likely not viable either.

 

For sure maintenance might have prevented this (propulsion problems plagued this ship for a while now) and it is time to re-examine backup systems on ships (generators should be able to run water pumps, for instance), but what could be done post Sunday?

[sail7seas]

I do not pretend to be any sort of maritime engineer but given all the cutbacks we have seen, so many are visible to us.......... how many do we not see?

 

I suggest there is the possibility maintenance and upgrades/repairs may not be as vigorous as they might be.

 

For dry docks to add cabins and revenue producing venues is fine but it is mandatory, IMO, maintenance to the mechanicals has to be more important.

I may be very wrong and be talking nonesense but where are all the savings? Are they just on things visible to us?

 

As to post the 'event',,,,,,, I haven't a clue what is logistically possible or safe. I am smart enough to know what I don't know but I would expect there are those who do know who likely could make some reasonable suggestions.

Once again there are paying guests and working crew on a Carnival ship enduring unbearable conditions. That is not acceptable to again be happening. IMO

 

 

[jtl513]

... it is time to re-examine backup systems on ships (generators should be able to run water pumps, for instance),

But if the electrical distribution system is too badly damaged at a critical point, spare generators wouldn't help.

[sammygoose]

My thoughts are with all of the passengers and crew of the Triumph. Nothing about this situation is good but one of the great things about cruising on a ship can leave you vulnerable to this type of breakdown vs a land based vacation.

so my question and I do have one is the crew.

They are busting their butts right now overtime, double time, triple time. If the passengers have it bad then ergo the crew have it worse much worse. So.....Carnival is refunding all fees from the cruise except gift shop and casino purchases. Will Carnival pay the crew what they would have made in tips? What will happen to their potential earnings while the ship is being repaired in dry dock? It makes me sad to think that while the pax will be getting compensated as they should and Carnival will be spinning this public relations nightmare the underbelly of the beast-the crew just got kicked in the teeth twice and by extension their families.:(

[sppunk]

I do not pretend to be any sort of maritime engineer but given all the cutbacks we have seen, so many are visible to us.......... how many do we not see?

 

I suggest there is the possibility maintenance and upgrades/repairs may not be as vigorous as they might be.

 

For dry docks to add cabins and revenue producing venues is fine but it is mandatory, IMO, maintenance to the mechanicals has to be more important.

I may be very wrong and be talking nonesense but where are all the savings? Are they just on things visible to us?

 

As to post the 'event',,,,,,, I haven't a clue what is logistically possible or safe. I am smart enough to know what I don't know but I would expect there are those who do know who likely could make some reasonable suggestions.

Once again there are paying guests and working crew on a Carnival ship enduring unbearable conditions. That is not acceptable to again be happening. IMO

 

 

I agree wholeheartedly regarding maintenance. It makes me question sailing on any ship, honestly. I'm not scared of sinking, it is this scenario that makes me question my vacation choice - you can't leave it. :(

 

After the fire, I just don't think much more is available. Maybe faster tugs? Not sure if possible either.

 

It is a terribly depressing situation. I feel for them all, especially the crew. Ugh.

[sppunk]

But if the electrical distribution system is too badly damaged at a critical point, spare generators wouldn't help.

 

True. Redundant systems like skyscraper elevators come to mind, but that'd be an extravagant construction cost. I wish they could "plug in" another ship for aux power like toy can if your car battery dies. :/

[sail7seas]

My thoughts are with all of the passengers and crew of the Triumph. Nothing about this situation is good but one of the great things about cruising on a ship can leave you vulnerable to this type of breakdown vs a land based vacation.

so my question and I do have one is the crew.

They are busting their butts right now overtime, double time, triple time. If the passengers have it bad then ergo the crew have it worse much worse. So.....Carnival is refunding all fees from the cruise except gift shop and casino purchases. Will Carnival pay the crew what they would have made in tips? What will happen to their potential earnings while the ship is being repaired in dry dock? It makes me sad to think that while the pax will be getting compensated as they should and Carnival will be spinning this public relations nightmare the underbelly of the beast-the crew just got kicked in the teeth twice and by extension their families.:(

 

 

 

We can only speculate and I wouldn't do that in this case.

 

Unless some crew tell us and they are credible, we have no way to know what Carnival may be doing for them.

 

But I agree they have a very tough situation they are expected to work their way through.

 

[sppunk]

BTW Carnival had a press conference and said 34 public restrooms were operating and majority of front and mid-ship cabins have facilities.

[sail7seas]

Sounds like the news stations and interviews of family members are saying very different things. :eek:

 

I'd like to think Carnival has it correct and the news reports are mistaken.

Where was this press conference heard? Did you hear it on TV. Perhaps we can find a recording/video?

 

[sppunk]

Sounds like the news stations and interviews of family members are saying very different things. :eek:

 

I'd like to think Carnival has it correct and the news reports are mistaken.

Where was this press conference heard? Did you hear it on TV. Perhaps we can find a recording/video?

 

 

There was a link posted to the live feed, but haven't seen a recording. They certainly may be bending the truth, guests have been quoted as saying there were never working toilets.

[sammygoose]

We can only speculate and I wouldn't do that in this case.

 

Unless some crew tell us and they are credible, we have no way to know what Carnival may be doing for them.

 

But I agree they have a very tough situation they are expected to work their way through.

 

 

All good points. I hope in all of this the crew are taken care of like the pax. They are good hard working people and I only want the best of a bad situation for them. :)

[Cindy]

We can only speculate and I wouldn't do that in this case.

 

Unless some crew tell us and they are credible, we have no way to know what Carnival may be doing for them.

 

But I agree they have a very tough situation they are expected to work their way through.

 

 

All good points. I hope in all of this the crew are taken care of like the pax. They are good hard working people and I only want the best of a bad situation for them. :)

 

Carnival treated the staff and crew of the Splendor very well when they arrived in San Diego...all received several days of R&R in area hotels before they had to report back to work. My hope is that a precedent was set and the Triumph crew will receive the same.

[sail7seas]

Precedent? :eek:

 

Yes, I understand you are hoping for good treatment for crew as are we all.

 

But precedent? I'd hope this sort of thing won't continue to happen on any ships, be them Carnival or other.