Just one month after a Carnival Cruise Line fire left people stranded for days in the Gulf of Mexico, yet another cruise ship experienced problems. A power outage on Carnival Cruise Line's "Carnival Dream" Wednesday turned what was supposed to be a Caribbean cruise into a nightmare.
Toilets stopped working when the power blew out and no one was allowed to leave the vessel, which was docked at Philipsburg, St. Maarten. The power was eventually restored, but passengers were still told to stay on board the ship. One guest said that the cruise director was only providing the passengers with bits and pieces of information.
"There's human waste all over the floor in some of the bathrooms and they're overflowing — and in the state rooms. The elevators have not been working. They've been turning them on and off, on and off," said Gregg Stark, one of the ship's guests. He was traveling with his wife and two children.
Carnival Cruise Lines reported that a total of 4,363 guests and 1,370 crew members were on the ship. Although the ship's capacity is stated as 3,646 passengers on Carnival's website, that amount is based on two individuals per cabin. Some cabins may hold up to four guests, said Vance Gulliksen, a spokesperson for Carnival.
Carnival said it's making arrangements to get guests off the ship and back home.
"While personnel continue to work on the technical issue we are making arrangements to fly all guests home via private charter flights and scheduled flights from St. Maarten," said Carnival in a statement Thursday.
As compensation to disappointed passengers, Carnival will give out refunds that are equal to a three-day cruise. Should they wish to take a cruise in the future, they will also receive half off their purchase.
"We are also canceling the ship's next voyage which is scheduled to depart on Saturday, March 16," said Carnival.
