Carnival to Further Compensate Triumph Passengers with $500 Each
Passenger describes conditions onboard
Carnival Cruise Lines has announced further compensation for the passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph, currently being towed via tug boats to Mobile, Alabama after an engine room fire early Sunday caused a loss of propulsion.
All guests on the current voyage will receive further compensation of $500.00 per person.
Gerry Cahill, President & CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines said: "We know it has been a longer journey back than we anticipated at the beginning of the week under very challenging circumstances. We are very sorry for what our guests have had to endure. Therefore, in addition to the full refund and future cruise credit already offered, we have decided to provide this additional compensation. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Mobile tomorrow and have mobilized our full resources to assist and support them as they travel home."
As previously announced, all 3,143 guests on board will receive a full refund of the cruise along with transportation expenses and reimbursement of all shipboard purchases during the voyage, with the exception of gift shop, art purchases and casino charges. All passengers will also receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount paid for this voyage.
Carnival says it will have 200 people on the ground ready to assist passengers as they disembark. They have also finalized travel arrangements for guests who have the option to board buses directly to Galveston or Houston, Texas or to spend the night in a hotel in New Orleans, where they can rest before taking private air charters the next day. Carnival said Wednesday that “all travel related and incidental expenses” will be covered.
The cruise line has reserved 100 motor coaches and more than 1,500 New Orleans hotel rooms as well as multiple charter flights from New Orleans to Houston on Friday and transportation from Houston to the Port of Galveston so guests who drove to the port may retrieve their vehicles.
Carnival has also cancelled the next 12 scheduled voyages for the Carnival Triumph, the first of which was scheduled to set sail on February 11th.
Guests scheduled to sail on these voyages will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, reimbursement for non-refundable travel costs, prepaid shore excursions, gratuities, taxes and fees. Guests will also receive a 25 percent discount on a future 3 – 5 day sailing or 15 percent off a 6 – 7 day sailing.
The Carnival Triumph became disabled early on Sunday, February 10 after suffering a fire in the aft engine room that left the ship powerless and without propulsion. The emergency generator is supplying some power however it kicks on and off causing doors to unexpectedly close. The ships freshwater system was quickly restored however the sewage system is only operational in the forward sections of the ship.