Ecstacy dead in the water....

[tnelson01192002]

Just saw in our news that Carnival Ecstacy is dead in the water in the Gulf of Mexico due to a propulsion problem. Apparently, the problem began last week, and they did this week's cruise anyway but to a different port. Now they didn't even get to go to a port. The people onboard are furious because they weren't told of the problem when boarding, although Carnival knew about it. Anyway, it's a story I'm watching with interest because we are on it 3/17/to 3/21 to Cozumel. We have already booked a shore excursion. UGH!!

Teresa in Austin, TX

 

[batman4279]

Well at least with all the attention it's getting, it should be repaired by then. This ship has a history of bad luck, wasn't there a fire on her a few years back?

 

[mikesteg]

Not told about it? Ecstasy didn't even get back to Galveston until sundown on Monday. These folks must have boarded, in the dark, 8 hours late. Maybe they weren't told about options to not cruise or something like that, but surely they knew there had been problems on the prior cruise...

 

[tnelson01192002]

I'm not debating the news story because I wasn't there. I'm merely interested in the status going forward for the reason given.

Here is the story from khou.com in Houston:

Hundreds of Carnival Cruise Lines passengers are stuck in the ocean without a propeller. The ship, bound for Cancun, is limping into Progreso to have repairs made to its propulsion system.

The cruise was supposed to be nothing but fun in the sun aboard the Carnival Ecstasy, but that is not how the passengers see it.


AP

Carnival Cruise Lines ship, Ecstasy, is having propulsion system problems and is stopping in Progreso, Mexico for repairs.
"Her very words were, 'We are dead in the water', " says Jay Laughlin.

Laughlin's wife Bonnie and 7-and 8-year-old daughters Maddie and Megan are on the ship for a spring break cruise.

The engines stopped, and the ship was just floating. Carnival says the ship is experiencing technical difficulties with its propulsion system.

Jay Laughlin's wife Bonnie and - and 8-year-old daughters Maddie and Megan are on the ship for a spring break cruise, as are a half dozen other families from their neighborhood.

"She was not happy. The kids were miserable couldn't sleep," Laughlin says about his wife.

Another passenger on the boat communicated via e-mail, writing, "We are going to Progreso, Mexico because there is a part being shipped there to fix the boat. Everyone is furious. Another security official told me that this has happened six times before with him."

According to the passenger agony on the Ecstasy came to a head Wednesday afternoon.

Also online

Statement from Carnival
At 2 p.m., about 500 people protested in the lobby of the ship. People were shouting "no Progreso, take us home".

"Guests were apprised of the situation prior to the cruise and had the option of canceling and receiving a full refund of their cruise fare if they did not wish to sail," says Carnival spokesperson Vance Gulliksen.

That's not what Laughlin heard when he checked in his family.

"They led us to believe that they had those problems fixed, both before they got on the ship and after my wife was in the stateroom," he says.

As for trying to get information out of the company, "In a word, 'clueless', " says Laughlin.

The problem actually started on the ship's last cruise.

Carnival says they are stopping in Progreso for parts and so an engineer flown in from Europe can continue work on the ailing propulsion system.

According to the latest statement from Carnival, passengers will be offered a 50-percent refund of their cruise fare and a 25 percent discount on a future Carnival cruise.

Many say that is just not enough.

There are more than 2000 people on board the Ecstacy, and many are from this area and other parts of Texas.

The Ecstasy is scheduled to return to Galveston on Saturday.

All future voyages remain as scheduled at this time.

 

[herrthreegirls]

Re: Ecstacy in the water....

Wow!
We were on the Ecstacy from 2/26-3/3. The last night at dinner everything started vibrating really badly. We wondered what was going on. We looked outside later and saw that we weren't moving. I think we stopped for about an hour. Never heard why. We made it home fine. I'm sorry for the people on board but I can't help but be glad our cruise was not affected.
herrthreegirls

 

[MikeNBec]

I can see my wife and I now.........."What? The ship isn't moving? So we get to spend MORE time on the ship? YAY!"

Just how we handle any problems that arise...........: )

 

[mlzangel78]

other than perhaps major problems with airfare and having to deal with the airlines if we didntmake it back in time,, i welcome the extra day at sea and vacation any day...

 

[tnelson01192002]

We are driving from Austin to Galveston, so it's not really airfare I'm worried about. We need to get back home to our kids, however, who will be with their Dad while we are gone. We also have pets that will need us to come back eventually. Don't get me wrong, extra time away from work, responsibilities, etc. has an appeal, it's the hassle of all of the details that I would not enjoy. A vacation would become a lot of work.

I talked to my "vacation planner" from Carnival. He had no clue, but said sometimes they don't tell the front line people for a day or two thinking no one will call before that. Wrong!!

Anyway, I'm gonna keep watching for news and if anyone else finds out anything, let me know.

Thanks.

6 days to go!!

 

[Coppertone Girl]

On another message board it says that they were late to begin with and that Carnival told passengers what their options were.... I'll find out more...

 

[Cori]

I'm with MikeNBec... "We're not moving? Woo hoooo!!!" As long as they still had power, their plumbing was working, etc., I think I'd be having an even BETTER time... I mean, come on... it's not like they're going to leave their passengers stranded onboard for a month; I'm sure they'll get them off on time, just maybe not at the port they'd planned, but then Carnival would have to make arrangements to get them back to the original debarkation port, wouldn't they?

People need to chill out and go with the flow... a good adventure every now and then is what makes life interesting, right?

 

[jason26]

I agree just keep power and plumbing and the beer cold and Im fine....at least im out of the cold Ohio weather.

 

[Diverbl]

I guess we will be reading about another class action lawsuit against Carnival soon, to go along with the one that people are bringing over the Glory fiasco.

 

[batman4279]

I have always hoped I would get a cruise where something went wrong, so I could get more time on the ship, and some money. That would be great to me.

 

[nhfamily]

This is unbelievable!! I was on the Glory for the ill-fated "Floating Uncontrollably Nowhere" ship cruise. We have got to stop Carnival from thinking that they can do this and get away with it. This is the 3rd Carnival ship that has had engine problems since last December!!!

 

[tnelson01192002]

Well, you weren't excited about being at sea extra fun-filled days? Did you get loads of cash in reimbursement?

Please explain the "floating uncontrollably nowhere" cruise. Thanks!

 

[Giles612]

nhfamily Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We have got to stop Carnival from
> thinking that they can do this and get away with
> it.

Get away with what? Mechanical problems happen, I highly doubt this was a pre-planned conspiracy by carnival to ruin 3000 passenger's vacation with a malfunctioning engine.

 

[folasanmi]

I have to agree that an extra day @ sea is great BUT with such uncertainties, I doubt how excited I'd be!
Now I am really concerned about doing Fantasy in August! Three ships have problems in 3 months isnt something worth writing home about for any company. I mean, yes, no company sabotages its passengers that way for their own loss, but three in three tells a lot about quality control, and attention to safety and details.

Tell me, would you fly an airline that had had to land elsewhere due mechanical problems, on an average of once a month?

This is really scary!!! especially for people like me who have never gone-asailing and who still think of the titanic! I remember someone had a thread in one of the boards about being scared of cruising. Hope she/he doesnt see this thread.

50% off wont work for me if I were on such a ship! 50% off doesnt pay for any lost days at work nor the emotional trauma nor airline issues (which I SERIOUSLY HOPE THE INSURANCE COVERS) nor the impact of losing work days (i.e. not just the immeidate dolalr worth, but the explanations u have to make to take you off the 'gone unexpected' and 'unreliable' list of employees!
My oh my! Carnival can do better! i wonder what the contract reads like! but if i pay for a cruise and this happens, i would think i havent gotten the service paid for, so i will consider disputing the charge on my credit card.
Ok, i am uptight about it. but truely i am sooo concerned!

Who knows the statistics on RCCL, please? that may yet sway my decision for a change.

 

[lizardstew]

I'm on the Fascination in December...and if they want to park me out in the middle of the ocean for an extra day or two...YAY! My boss may not be thrilled, but she'll survive.

The difference between planes and ships is that planes will come plummeting toward earth if their engines fail. Ships don't plummet, and it doesn't appear that any of these vessels have even been close to sinking and, I could be wrong about this, but I don't think anyone was even injured. (BTW - it took the Titanic hours to sink....these days something like that would never happen - too many other ships around to respond and save the day.)

I am not saying that those of you who are concerned about this problem, or those who have actually experience this, don't have a valid point....and there may be a huge inconvenience factor for some. I'm just saying that there is no reason to worry about your cruise because you *might* have engine problems. You'll ruin your vacation before it begins with that kind of stress.

 

[Coppertone Girl]

Although I think comparing a ship to an airplane is preposterous... I must agree that I might be inconvenienced and upset at the change of plans and not going to the ports of call... However, I have been told that there is a percentage refunded to the passengers, plus a great future discount given to them if they choose to stay. Then again, don't they have a vacation guarantee??? I've read about it in my brochures and teh past guest magazine... why so many people say they've never been 'TOLD' about it... can't you read???

 

[Coppertone Girl]

Oops, I never meant to write "can't YOU read" but rather, " can't people read" please no one take offense at my comment!

Anywho, I was a bit concerned (jeje, right) about my cruise on teh Valor...so I called my TA... she got a letter on her fax regarding the Ecstasy... apparently these people can cancel now, or go and get 50% refunded and a 25% off cruise credit for future cruise. The letter came now for the next cruise, so it's up to her to let her clients know... but she said she's got no one on that ship, so lucky her.

Now, Folasanmi: I truly hope you're not fearing for your well being... and I hope you're kidding about the Titanic comparison. I know many people would consider this a ruined vacation, but I think I can say that this is not a life or death situation.

Good luck!