Lynsie Whitehead
The Signal
Watching the recent media coverage of the handicapped Carnival cruise ship Triumph floating around the Gulf of Mexico is enough to make anyone wonder if cruising is a good choice.
Luckily, the passengers aboard the ship, some of whom were calling it “the vacation from hell,” returned safely back to port thanks to tug boats. The question I’m sure Carnival is left asking of its passengers is whether any of them will be return customers.
Imagine enjoying three days of cruising to Mexico, only to wake up on day four to an engine room fire and what would soon turn in to a complete fiasco. Passengers were forced to endure harsh conditions, a complete opposite of the luxurious amenities Carnival boasts about providing.
As the days unfolded on the stagnant boat, the media had a heyday with reports from passengers on board about overflowing sewage, the use of disposable bags for toilets, limited electricity, lack of food and makeshift tent cities on the upper decks of the ship.
It is safe to assume this is not the type of cruise anyone had in mind. Are the latest complications enough to deter future cruisers?
I am a self-proclaimed cruise addict; you can’t get a better deal on a vacation. The itineraries are enticing, the food is incredible, and you will never encounter a more helpful staff working to serve you.
I made wonderful memories during a previous cruise on Triumph, probably not the same type of memories the latest round of guests will have. The ship did live up to its name when I was on board. The staterooms, dining rooms, pool decks, bars, theatres and general areas were magnificent. It makes me a little sad to know that such a fantastic ship is sitting in despair in Mobile, Ala., while crews assess the damage.
Carnival has cancelled Triumph’s voyages through April. I assume that even longer cancellations will be headed our way. When I say headed our way, I really do mean my way. I am booked to set sail on Triumph May 20.
I was really looking forward to stepping off dry land as part of my college graduation celebration with friends. However, it looks like I might need to start making new plans. In fact, my fiancé insisted I call our travel agent, but I couldn’t because she was one of the unlucky ones stranded on the crippled boat.
I have since spoken with her, and I fully expected her to advise us to make new plans and to avoid cruising. To my surprise, she only had positive things to say about our impending cruise.
She expressed that conditions were unpleasant, but her recent voyage would not change her enthusiasm about cruising. She gave details of the crew working diligently to ensure the comfort of their passengers, despite the fact crew members were literally in the same boat.
She suggested we wait to hear what is going to happen with the ship instead of hastily booking a new vacation.
I trust Carnival Cruise Line and believe this was just an unfortunate event. Not every cruise from here on out is going to be doomed. I will have absolutely no problem boarding Triumph in May if the cruise line says it’s ready. Just because there are plane crashes doesn’t mean people quit flying. What is the difference with cruising?
When you sign up to cruise, you agree these sorts of disasters can happen. In the event that a disaster actually does happen, you simply have to realize that life doesn’t always go as planned. Life goes on, and you can’t live your life standing on the dock.
