Cruising For A Lawsuit

Former Senior cruise ship operator Jay Herring offers some insight . . . 

More on lawsuits from TravelPulse - Carnival Triumph Passengers File Lawsuits 

Carnival Cruise Lines is facing a number of lawsuits filed by passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph, which lost power in the Gulf of Mexico and was towed into Mobile, Ala., on Feb. 14. 

Miami-based maritime law firm Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman is seeking class-action status for its law suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Miami on behalf of passengers who were on the ship, alleging that the conditions on-board endangered their health.

The suit also contends that Carnival Triumph should have headed for Progreso, Mexico, because it was closer and would have eased conditions faster. 

Carnival has said the ship drifted away from Progreso, and that plan was further complicated by the fact that 900 of the 3,000 passengers did not have U.S. passports.

But not everyone believes filing lawsuits is the best strategy for passengers in this case. Indeed, one of the cruise industry’s most strident critics, attorney Jim Walker of Miami, said he does not believe in filing such suits.

In a blog entry posted in 2010 after a similar incident on the Carnival Splendor, Walker wrote that in order to have a legitimate case for compensation, a cruise passenger has to suffer a personal injury. “Experiencing inconvenience and unpleasant circumstances does not constitute a personal injury unless there is a physical injury,” he wrote. “If you fall down a flight of stairs in the dark and break your hip, that’s a personal injury. But taking cold showers, smelling toilets that can’t be flushed, eating Spam sandwiches in the dark or other similar ‘cruise from hell’ stories are not compensable.”

In a more recent blog entry, Walker added that these “conclusions I reached two years ago apply to this latest Carnival debacle.” Carnival has already agreed to refund passengers’ fares and travel expenses, wiped out shipboard accounts, offered a free cruise and paid them $500 each. “So if you are foolish enough to file suit [in Miami], you simply will not do any better than what is already being offered now,” Walker wrote. “Plus you will incur legal expenses and travel expenses pursuing a case in Miami which you are certain to lose.”

 Source: By Theresa Norton Masek - TravelPulse 

Carnival Dispatches 3rd Tugboat To Assist Triumph

When Cruisin' Goes Wrong . . . Passengers report the top deck looks like a shanty town with tents made out of sheets, and mattresses everywhere. Food supplies have been low, and without working toilets passengers have been forced to use bags 

The ship is currently being towed to port in Mobile, Ala., and expected to arrive some time Thursday. A third tugboat was dispatched from Louisiana Wednesday to help the towing efforts.

Passenger with pre-existing medical condition was transferred to the Carnival Legend 

Carnival has reserved 1,500 hotel rooms for passengers in Mobile and New Orleans, along with 20 chartered flights which will transport passengers to Houston. Each passenger will also receive a full refund, future cruise credit, along with an additional $500 in compensation. 

Now Here's The Big Question - What's The Deal With The On-board Safety Systems? 

Cruise ships should have a high level of plant redundancy to prevent a total loss of power when a single engine catches fire - in other words - BACKUP!  

Half of the ships capacities should remain in tact after a single failure. It appears with the previous fire in 2010 on the Carnival Splendor, and this current situation on Triumph, engine and monitoring systems are not coping with multiple failures.  

What we know about the fire on Carnival Splendor is that two individual engine rooms shut down due to the fire, along with every backup electrical system - and this is a newer ship.   

Unlike the newer Splendor, the The Triumph is one of the older ships (launched in 1999) in Carnival's fleet, and is based in Galveston sailing 4-5 day trips to the Caribbean. 

Mechanical Issues On Triumph Last Month

While it is not known what caused the fire abroad The Triumph, was is known is that the ship was having issues prior to this cruise. 

The ship was due to depart mid day from Galveston on January 28, and was delayed until about 8:00 p.m. due to propulsion issues. Due to the delay passengers did not make the Cozumel port, and were given a $50 credit.  

Carnival Cancels Triumph's Next 12 Sailings 

Carnival has cancelled Triumph's next 12 trips, in addition to the two that were already canceled. It promised refunds to those who have booked voyages on the ship through April 13.

Passengers have reported over flowing toilets and sewage running down walls and halls. Carnival can sanitize and replace carpets and furnishings, but will those previously booked pick this particular ship when it resurfaces? 

Or perhaps the cruise line will sell it off to somewhere in Europe, where it will be renamed and continue sailing. That's what happens to older ships that can still be salvaged - they live again under a new name and company.  



Related links

Mobile, Alabama Prepares For Carnival Triumph Arrival As Cruise Ship Is Towed To Gulf Coast

Triumph Out of Commission

Carnival CEO says his company trying to make passengers as comfortable as possible

Carnival Victory Launches Year-Round Short Cruises from Miami

Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Victory arrived at Port Miami the morning of Feb. 4 and kicked off its new year-round schedule of four- and five-day cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas. 

Four-Day “long weekend” cruises depart Thursdays and call at Key West and Cozumel. 

Five-Day cruises that depart Mondays visit Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, Half Moon Cay and Nassau. 

Another Five-Day itinerary departs Saturdays and visits Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios. 

The Victory replaces Carnival Destiny, which departed Miami the afternoon of Feb. 4 on an 18-day trans-Atlantic crossing that will end Feb. 22 in Venice, Italy, and the vessel will undergo a $155 million renovation. 

Carnival Destiny will emerge from the 49-day dry dock with a new name, Carnival Sunshine, and new restaurants, bars and entertainment.

By Theresa Norton Masek via TravelPulse

Carnival Triumph Dead In Water Off Coast of Mexico

The 14-year old ship is basically going nowhere, and is operating on emergency generator power after a fire Sunday in one of the diesel generators killed its propulsion. 

The fire was quickly put out by an automatic fire extinguishing system, and none of the 4,229 passengers or crew are said to be in any danger. 

“The cause of the fire is still to be determined,” said Carnival spokesman Vance Guliksen. In a brief news release, Guliksen said “there were no casualties to guests or crew.”

Carnival says tugboats are en route to the Carnival Triumph to tow it to Progreso, Mexico so that passengers can get off, but the process will take three days. The vessel is expected to arrive in Progreso on Wednesday afternoon, the line says.

All cruise passengers will be flown back to the United States and will be fully refunded. Carnival will cover any additional transportation expenses, and passengers will also receive a free future cruise.

According to Carnival, some basic auxiliary power has been restored, cabin toilets are working on part of the ship and some elevators are operational. The dining areas are serving hot coffee and limited hot food.

More updated news at USA Today Cruise Log

Crystal 2014 World Cruises

Crystal’s 2014 World Cruise consists of five 12- to 22-day segments visiting ports in California, Hawaii, Guam, Mariana Islands, Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Principe, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Portugal, and England.  

Full World Cruisers receive perks, such as a pre-cruise gala, complimentary chauffeured pre- and post-cruise transfers, souvenir gifts and shore-side events. 

Crystal Cruises has announced more than 200 exciting land excursions for its 89 day 2014 World Cruise schedule aboard the Crystal Serenity sailing January 18, 2014.  

Here's just a few of the new adventure excursions: 

• Helicopter rides over Hawaii, Hong Kong and Cape Town
• African Safari
• Overnight off ship in Vietnam and Cambodia
• Wine Blending near Cape Town
• Traditional Tea Preparation in Hong Kong
• Learn Creole Cooking in ; shopping in Mauritius, as well as shopping
• Visit WWII Pacific Theater sites from Tinian to Oahu - includes private lunch with captain of the USS Missouri.

Book the entire World Cruise by February 28th and save $3,900 per person. All-inclusive fares start at $39,280 per person. 

World Cruise segments ranging from 12 to 22 days in length, and if booked by February 28th begin at  $6,845 per person.

More info on 2014 World Cruise

SeaDream Yacht Exotic Far East Savings

SeaDream Yacht Club is offering an additional 10% off reduced fares on its 2013 and 2014 exotic Far East Asia voyages 

This is a limited time sale and applies to all 18 scheduled Asia Voyages, and must be booked by February 28, 2013. The voyages are seven to 15 days, and most can be combined as back-to-back sailings.  

SeaDream II sails from November through April 2014, and itineraries include Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), East Timor, Northern Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Vietnam, Cambodia and Hong Kong. 

Prices start at $3,599 per person for a Christmas voyage. Use promo code ASIA10 to receive the additional 10% when booking. 

http://www.seadream.com/

Take Your Sweetie to Tahiti

Tahiti and French Polynesia - Home of The Gauguin

Paul Gauguin Cruises is celebrating Valentine's Day with the "Take Your Sweetie to Tahiti" cruise package. 

Reserve this sailing aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin by February 16, 2013, and receive this $230 value:

• $200 per-stateroom credit at the onboard Deep Nature Spa by Algotherm
• Box of Godiva chocolates
• Flower turndown service
• In Addition - 50% Savings and Air from Los Angeles

Head to the site for more info - http://www.pgcruises.com/take-your-sweetie-tahiti

Avalon Waterways Adds Three More Suite River Ships

Avalon Waterways is adding to the surge in river ship new builds, announcing it will bring three new vessels into service in 2014. 

Avalon Impression, Avalon Illumination and Avalon Poetry II will bring the line's total number of suite ships to eight. 

The three ships represent the line's single biggest fleet upgrade since Avalon launched in 2004. They will be sister ships to Avalon Artistry II and Avalon Expression, which are debuting in April and May of this year. 

Avalon Waterways is the third line in as many months to announce expansions to its fleet of river cruise ships. 

In December 2012, Viking River Cruises ordered 10 more Longships for its fleet for delivery in 2013 and 2014. And in January of this year, Tauck announced it will welcome two new river ships into its fleet in 2014. 

By Dori Saltzman, News Editor Cruise Critic

Windstar One Week Sale - Up To 65% Savings

Book Windstar Cruises by February 11, 2013 and receive savings of up to 65 percent off of select voyages - as low as $1,299 on Caribbean or Mediterranean cruises.

Wind Surf world’s largest sailing yacht 







Wind Star, sleek, four-masted sailing yacht accommodating 148 guests

Wind Spirit features wide open, teak decks—quite unusual for small ships.





Check out fares for one week sale cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Northern Europe, Italy and Transatlantic. 

Windstar One Week Sale

Quantum Leap Forward in Cruising

Royal Caribbean announces the name as well as the start of construction on its newest class of ships, formerly known as Project Sunshine. Quantum of the Seas℠ and Anthem of the Seas℠ are a leap forward in both innovation and design. 

The first ship is expected to be delivered in Fall 2014, and the second ship in spring 2015. There will be enough space for up to 4, 100 passengers.