CNN reporting another Carnival Ship having trouble (The Dream)

[3dog]

No, but I have seen the planes fly in by the beach. It would be kind of scary to fly into there. Not sure about out- maybe?

 

Into is quite tame. It is over water where someone looking out a window may not see land, but is a straight forward approach. Departing is towards the mountain: not enough altitude, and people get to see it up close, and personal.

[RRLLAL]

I'll bite. They are NOW allowed off the ship. To cite the article you referenced but apparently didn't read:

 

Kris Anderson, a passenger on the ship and reporter for CNN affiliate WREG, said Thursday passengers have been told they will be allowed off the ship to enjoy the island while flight arrangements are made.

 

and

 

But Thursday afternoon, Carnival told CNN that based on conversations with the ship's management team, a look at service logs "and extensive physical monitoring of all public areas, including restrooms, throughout the night, we can confirm that only one public restroom was taken offline for cleaning based on toilet overflow and there was a total of one request for cleaning of a guest cabin bathroom.

 

What did you expect the Captain to do? Let everyone off onto the island for an undetermined time? What if they repair took two hours and then she was ready to sail? Again..in the same article

 

U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss said Carnival's original decision to keep passengers on board was "for accountability purposes. The last thing we want to do is have someone get left behind in St. Maarten by accident."

 

This isn't a nightmare; it's an inconvenience. Does it suck? Yes. But, St, Maarten is a tropical island, not inner-city Detroit, for crying out loud. Relax

 

You are derailing the haters.

[Pauser]

Now we get to see how the passport vs birth certificate scenario plays out.

 

What will Carnival do to expedite ICE processing for those flying back w/o passports?

 

Just got a tweet stating that Carnival has come to an agreement with St. Maarten airport officials. Travelers without passports won't be delayed or denied boarding in this instance.

[RRLLAL]

I saw those threads. And I know many of those posts came from the "It was a vacation! A bad day at sea is better than a good day at work!" types. I also saw what passengers were saying elsewhere. That was an entirely different story.

 

Look. You can cheerlead all you want. But the fact of the matter is, CC members make up a very miniscule portion of the cruising public. Most are just everyday people. This does not keep happening to RCCL. This does not keep happening to Disney. This does not keep happening to NCL. This keeps happening to Carnival, and to other ships in the Carnival Corporation & plc family (Costa Concordia, Costa Allegra). That kind of thing is going to stick in the public's mind, and it's going to hurt Carnival unless something changes. Fair? Maybe, maybe not. But to continue to cheerlead, to continue to stick your fingers in your ears and say "LA LA LA NOTHING'S WRONG", or to act like Baghdad "The Americans are not in Iraq" Bob, is just silly. Carnival's feet need to be held to the fire until the problem, whatever it may be, is figured out. Otherwise this is going to keep happening.

 

Nice spin. I am talking about people on the ship. Some posted here. Or, you can watch the CNN interviews of passengers as they got off the ship and CNN didn't get what they were looking for.

[Laszlo]

Hey, 3 free days and 50% off another cruise is not bad at all

[crewsweeper]

As Doug Addams used to say, "Don't Panic!":eek: Based on most recent releases from Carnival, the Dream should be back sailing on its March 23rd itinerary. The few toilets that did overflow have stopped their naughty behavior:rolleyes: and ship's housekeeping has cleaned up the mess.

[jaxstiles]

First people were complaining about how Carnival handled the Triumph situation and now people are complaining because they are doing something right away for the Dream passengers?!

 

Damned if you do and damned if you don't....smh...:confused:

[ducklite]

Say what you want to, but it will be a logistical nightmare for most cruisers trying to get home now. Your last days of relaxation are being spent trying to figure out how to get home - how to make flight connections, etc. . I know that would be my first priority. It wouldn't be sitting on a beach sipping a tropical drink. Guarantee Carnival will start flying passengers out ASAP, so those that were looking forward to relaxing for two sea days are screwed. I would definately try to make lemonade out of lemons, but it won't be fun to begin with.

 

I'm not seeing how making flights is going to be an issue here. There's no reason that everyone won't be back in the US at PC or MCO in time for their scheduled flights.

[reallyitsmema]

Passports were not an issue for the Triumph passengers because they came back to the U.S. These guests in St Maarten are flying from outside the U.S. and a passport is required. As a TA I tell all my clients that a passport is not required but I highly recommend getting one because what if.... just what has happened on the Carnival Dream. They are going to have to go through international customs at MCO so I guess they will have to single out the particular flights they are coming in on and process them separately.

 

The other issue also is baggage. If they drove to the port, they packed for a cruise not for a flight. Extra bags (baggage fees), contents, etc.

 

I would imagine it is going to take days to get 4000 people home. How many flights can there be in/out of St Maarten?

Carnival is chartering flights. There will be no bag fees. What contents are you concerned about? What can passengers bring on a cruise ship that they can't put into a checked bag of an airplane?

 

Carnival will make arrangements with CBP. These aren't the only people to ever come back to the US under unique circumstances.

 

You are a TA?:eek:

[jkhammy]

This would fair compensation for me, but I'm not the one inconvenienced, so I guess I can't judge. Carnival is sure going to take a kick the a** on the Public Relations side of this though. I just now watched a news broadcast on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp) and they referred to this as "passengers stranded" and a telephone interview with a man claiming there was sewage backup. Luckily I read cruise critic everyday and know that the information here is probably more accurate than the beloved CBC in Canada, lol!

[ducklite]

I agree with these statments 100%

 

I disagree. It will affect the large, mass market portion of the industry. It will not affect the small ship, luxury ship, or river cruise market.

[littlesteelo]

Oh god, this is the most stupid argument ever. The refund is for the part of the cruise they missed. Also unlike Triumph, all the ships facilities are operating fine. They are getting flown back free as well. If I was a passenger I would be perfectly satisfied, if not a little disappointed my cruise had to end two days short. Let us not also forget the 50% off a future cruise as well.

 

I don't see why people think everyone should get a free cruise in this situation. Triumph and Splendor were definitely worthy of that, but this isn't.

[Tutankhamen]

Kris Anderson, news anchor for WREG Memphis is on the cruise with his family. He has made several reports stating that the toilets are working. Other news outlets are making it sound far worse then it is. That if they were not sitting in port, you wouldn't even know there is a problem. Toilets were down for just several hours.

 

http://wreg.com/2013/03/14/kris-anderson-among-those-stuck-on-carnival-ship/

[ducklite]

You are derailing the haters.

 

I really haven't seen much hate. Criticism, yes, but hate? I don't think so. I think that overall the criticism has been quite justified.

[Coolcruise02]

The cheerleaders say the stranded ones "are in a Paradise!".

 

CNN says: The experience on the Carnival Dream became something of a nightmare for some passengers Wednesday when power went off, some toilets stopped working, and no one was allowed to get off the vessel -- despite the fact that the ship was docked at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, in the eastern Caribbean.

Lets hear it, CCL Cheerleaders. We are waiting...

 

Well, I don't think I'm a cheerleader but I tend to take CNN's "dramatics" with a grain of salt!

[halos]

I disagree. It will affect the large, mass market portion of the industry. It will not affect the small ship, luxury ship, or river cruise market.

 

yes, I agree...I was only thinking about the mass-market lines because the luxury lines have very little in common with them and I never consider the luxury lines when talking about mass market lines. They are worlds apart.

[big_duck]

Some would say the Dream has never been normal.

[broberts]

. . . This does not keep happening to RCCL. This does not keep happening to Disney. This does not keep happening to NCL. This keeps happening to Carnival, and to other ships in the Carnival Corporation & plc family (Costa Concordia, Costa Allegra). That kind of thing is going to stick in the public's mind, and it's going to hurt Carnival unless something changes. Fair? Maybe, maybe not. . . .

 

If you dig back in this thread you will find several postings of a pie chart that breaks out incidents by cruise line. You might want to take the time to find it, it will likely change your perception of frequency of incidents for various cruise lines.

 

But you are quite correct about public perception. Many are going to think twice about booking on Carnival and I wonder just how many people will not cruise Royal Caribbean because of the recent reports of a Norovirus outbreak on Vision of the Seas.

[islandchicklet]

I would take 2 extra day in St Martin over sea days anytime. They are flying them. I think it's generous that they are compensating them at all.

 

They paid for a 7 day cruise and getting a 4 day cruise and you think "it's generous that they are compensating them at all"???

[ib4cruzn]

I half expected to see a lemon with a Carnival funnel on it posted by now.

 

Found this:

[Aquahound]

I really haven't seen much hate. Criticism, yes, but hate? I don't think so. I think that overall the criticism has been quite justified.

 

To understand Objectophilia is to understand their point of view. ;)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

If I were still expecting two sea days, it's not unusual for me to have several hundred (or more) in casino ships in my room safe. With the casino not reopening, I wonder how people will be able to cash in their chips.

 

Just another side issue - perhaps it has already been taken care of onboard (announcement for people to go to the cage or similar).

 

Tom

[Cruizinman]

So an I reading this right ? Their allowing people to stay on the ship until it's repaired, if the customer dos not want to fly home :eek:.

[halos]

.

 

But you are quite correct about public perception. Many are going to think twice about booking on Carnival and I wonder just how many people will not cruise Royal Caribbean because of the recent reports of a Norovirus outbreak on Vision of the Seas.

 

Seasoned cruisers will not likely allow either of these things to deter them...but CCL markets to and banks on the new cruiser. This is NOT the way to lure them. This drives the people considering cruising right to the other lines

[luvdisney2010]

Now we get to see how the passport vs birth certificate scenario plays out.

 

What will Carnival do to expedite ICE processing for those flying back w/o passports?

 

 

That was my very first thought. Then I thought, "I can't wait to see how this plays out on CC!" ;)