Posted on 02/12/2013 8:26:15 AM PST by cll
(10:15 a.m. EST) – Carnival Triumph is on the move again, under the power of two tugboats, and is expected to arrive in Mobile on Thursday afternoon, according to a new update from Carnival Cruise Lines. All passengers will then be flown to Houston.
Limited onboard systems remain functional, though the sewage system did go down again last night for a short period. Technicians were able to gets "some of them [toilets] back on line this morning," Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen said. Passengers "are doing well under the circumstances," and the ship's entertainment staff has planned various activities to try and keep passengers entertained.
After being confined to open decks and public spaces on Sunday, the 3,143 passengers on the now-altered four-night Caribbean cruise from Galveston, have been allowed return to their cabins, said Gulliksen.
Additionally, there is running water in the cabins, albeit cold water. Power has been restored to a limited number of elevators, as well as to part of the Lido dining to provide for hot coffee and limited hot food service.
Meals and refreshments are being provided and the grille in the poolside restaurant was open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. last night and opened again at 7 a.m. this morning.
Emergency backup generators continue to power the ship's bridge and communication systems.
A fire left the ship adrift in the Gulf of Mexico with no power on Sunday, February 10. There were no injuries from the fire, which the line says was contained by the ship's automatic extinguishing system.
Carnival had originally announced Triumph would be towed to Progreso, Mexico but switched to Mobile after the ship drifted about 90 miles north due to strong currents, which put it nearly equidistant to Mobile as to Progreso. "Given the strength of the currents, it is preferable to head north to Mobile, rather than attempt to tow against them," a Carnival statement explained. "Mobile also provides simpler re-entry [than Mexico], particularly for the 900 passengers traveling without passports," the line added.
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Vigorous has been on the scene since 12:45 a.m. EST Monday.
A timeline for repairs to Triumph will be announced once the ship is in port and has undergone inspection, according to the line. Damaged suffered by Carnival Splendor from an engine room fire in 2010 kept the ship out of service for more than three months.
Cruise Critic member krogers2063 reports, "I just went on Carnival's Web site and did a mock booking and the next sailing that comes up for the Triumph is March 21st. That is my sailing. I pray it will be fixed by then."
This latest event comes just weeks after an issue with Triumph's propulsion system, which caused minor delays to two cruises. Gulliksen said Carnival has checked into whether the propulsion problem was related to the engine fire, but was told the cause of the fire is not yet known.
"A complete investigation will take place with the appropriate regulatory bodies, outside experts and other independent authorities as appropriate," he said.
Here is a you tube of the rescue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbAw3LJXaAU
Scary how far the Triumph drifted. One day it was off the Yucatan Peninsula, with plans to tow into Progreso, Mexico. Next day, it was way north in the GOM, with plans to tow into Mobile.
Ive been on both Carnival and Disney
about 17 years ago we were on a Carnival cruise and one of the propellor on the ship stopped working and something else went wrong and we limped into San Juan about 10 am one day 16 hours late...
We did get to spend the day in San Juan instead of arriving 6pm in the evening the day before (as they did back then)
they got the problem fixed and we were on our way a day late...although we went to St Thomas we didnt have time to go to St Maartin
Instead they stopped at Nassau Bahamas on the way beck (What would have been our “Day at sea”)
Im not that fond of the Bahamas and I would have rather we limped on into St Maartin
But during the time we were limping etc the passengers rioted...
We were not able to contact anyone in the US and nobody knew the truth back here...
We held a protest in one of the dining rooms and yelled “Norma Rae” because
1 We werent being told what was the problem until the next day
2 We were stopped from calling home (or the media) by the ships officers cutting of the communication eyetems and we couldnt use ship to shore telephones..(nobody had cell phones back then)
LOL
Well we had to aliviate the frustration...
One thing they did do was give us free booze for the rest of the cruise ...
We were given the option of being flown back toi the US fromn San Juan and many left the ship there...
Later wer werte told that qwas the only compensation Carnival had to give us...
They did finally give us 25% off another cruise within a year but I think they should have given us a free cruise...
Oh well
I think several sued but I didnt..
We’ve been on one cruise and it was with Norwegian last year (Southern Carribean). It was amazing! Everything was great...room, food, service, ports, etc.
I would not go on a Carnival cruise. Ever.
No Thanks.
To me its like being trapped in a NY burough with no way out.
Vodka in water and rum in Arizona Ice Tea bottles. Also took Burgundy wine aboard in Coke bottles.
Thats kinda what we do. large plastic flasks in our checked luggage have never been questioned.
900 people traveling with out passports—I don’t believe that for a minute.
We’ve been on 7 great cruises. Two words for you—Holland America!!
Enjoyable...maybe if a person likes being in what is like a huge floating shopping mall/restaurant/hotel/casino, with thousands of other people, surrounded by water, LOL! I’d prefer a tent in the woods, alone. :-)
In 1998 Cunard was sold to the cruise line conglomerate Carnival Corporation for US$500 million.
Carnival Corporation:
>>In 1998 Cunard was sold to the cruise line conglomerate Carnival Corporation for US$500 million.<<
Crap! I am starting to think Carnival owns everything, including Walmart, Walgreens and Costco!
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