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Carnival Triumph Review From an Actual Passenger "Not a Nightmare".
Cruise Critic ^ | TXRegulator

Posted on 02/24/2013 7:40:22 PM PST by willk

I had a GREAT time on my first cruise!! And yes...I was on the Triumph!! It was NOT THAT BAD!! It was akin to camping in one's own backyard as a kid. The crew was great, we were well treated, food was plentiful, water was restored quickly and the toilet issue was a minor inconvenience.

To expound a little on the camping analogy......Imagine camping in the backyard as a kid, the septic tank has a little bit of an issue on the other side of the yard, and mom hasn't been to the store in a couple of days. You could avoid the "squishy" part of the yard, and you may not have found what you wanted in the pantry...but there was food. Make sense?? There was NEVER any solid waste in the floor (unless someone defficated there on purpose somewhere) . There were some spots with some grey water overflow, but most was due to people not managing their water use considering the angle of list on the boat. We were never out of toilet paper....nor was anyone that we spoke to (which probably numbered well into the hundreds over the course of 5 days). We ran out of towels and all we had to do was (gasp) ask for more. Those that made the DELIBERATE DECISION to IGNORE the directions to NOT USE the toilets were susceptible to overflow when they pressure tested the system while trying to repair it. Those incidents were a DIRECT RESULT of people doing what they were specifically told NOT TO DO...but they thought "oh....it'll be ok just this once" and as a result of THEIR actions...they suffered more than others.

Addressing the food situation, there was AMPLE food. Even with the hoarding that some were doing, there was plenty of food available 24/7. Lines were lengthy for things like hamburgers, hot dogs and desserts,..... but the lines for sandwiches and fruits/veggies and things were very reasonable. As for the "they were making us eat onion and cucumber sandwiches" story.....yes, there were onion and cucumber sandwiches AFTER other passengers had come along and REMOVED THE MEAT FROM THEM for themselves!!! If you are gonna tell the story....tell it in it's entirety!! There were people walking around with trays of juice and water constantly. Servers were EVERYWHERE! It may not have been in a bottle, but it was bottled water served in cups and it was readily available at EVERY SINGLE BEVERAGE STATION and from a dozen or more servers at any given time!

I fully understand that not everyone goes camping and there are people that are a bit more emotionally sensitive than most, but it was not the emotional travesty it is being made out to be. If anyone has ANY sense of self preservation, it was no big deal. To those that have become nothing more than a "social dependent"... It was probably a bit more of a shock. There were some elderly that were having a hard time with all of the stair climbing that was necessary, but they come from a different generation....one that wasn't steeped in the "entitlement" mentality that recent generations seem to have. The elders on the boat, although having a hard time, were some of the most positive people I encountered!!

I would get back on another Carnival boat tomorrow, and I FULLY intend to be on the Triumph as she makes sail for the first time after her repairs are completed! Kuddos to Carnival staff, all the way from the bottom of the ladder to the top for making every effort to handle this incident as best as possible.


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To: dragnet2

Years ago, the cruise I was on was diverted from the Dominican Republic because of potentially bad weather. A couple I met got their noses out of joint and threatened to sue. Some people can’t adjust when things go wrong. Probably Obama voters.


21 posted on 02/24/2013 8:09:13 PM PST by fatnotlazy
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To: willk
When you are given lemons, you can have a sour puss or make lemonade.

I was on a tour in Greece many years ago. The farmers went on strike, and blocked the main roads. We took an alternate route through some scary mountain roads. Our tour bus was followed by three busloads of Italians trying to get to Athens to see Italy play Germany in the world cup. If we didn't get to Corinth in time for the last ferry, they would miss the game. When we got to the bottom of the mountain, there were another group of farmers blocking the road. The Italians, 150 of them, got off the bus and literally picked up the tractor blocking the road and threw it on its side. An unexpected, but great memory.

I really can't believe that any time on a curise ship could be that bad. Yes,you expect perfection. But seriously, nobody wants to hear about a perfect cruise. They will have memories for a lifetime.

22 posted on 02/24/2013 8:10:30 PM PST by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: driftdiver

“From what I understand they could easily have lost the ship if they had failed to quickly control the fire.

I’d say they’re pretty lucky.”

Yea. Fires have a way of doing that if they are not put out promptly.


23 posted on 02/24/2013 8:13:16 PM PST by willk
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To: driftdiver

“From what I understand they could easily have lost the ship if they had failed to quickly control the fire.

I’d say they’re pretty lucky.”

Yea. Fires have a way of doing that if they are not put out promptly.


24 posted on 02/24/2013 8:13:39 PM PST by willk
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To: willk

What surprised me was that everyone getting off the boat looked like they were freshly showered, hair clean and styled, and wearing clothes that looked very clean and neat.

If not so, why would so many of them choose to immediately get on a bus for a very long drive back to Galveston? If it was all that bad, they would have insisted on getting to a nice hotel in Mobile for a shower and a very good meal.


25 posted on 02/24/2013 8:15:30 PM PST by SeaHawkFan
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To: Jim from C-Town
He went on a cruise, but ended up having a FREE camping trip, He is a winner with a positive attitude.

Here's a pic of all those people enjoying their camping trip, sleeping and sunning themselves on the deck.. ...What a blast!

26 posted on 02/24/2013 8:16:21 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2

If a person from Haiti were on board, they would have thought that they just died and went to Heaven.


27 posted on 02/24/2013 8:17:47 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: lacrew

“A client’s son was on the ship, and was interviewed by CNN. He also didn’t makd it out to be that bad.....but I did note he was a ‘platinum’ member...so maybe he got better treatment.”

Probably not. But I bet Platinum gave him priority boarding, 10 minutes free internet with the purchase of 120 minutes and a robe for their personal use while on board.


28 posted on 02/24/2013 8:21:52 PM PST by willk
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To: SeaHawkFan
If it was all that bad, they would have insisted on getting to a nice hotel in Mobile for a shower and a very good meal.

Take a cruse and end up eating lunch meat in a Mobile hotel...oh yeah...

29 posted on 02/24/2013 8:24:06 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: FatherofFive
Good that they (passengers) tried to make the best of a bad luck situation. But the bottom line is that they were not delivered what was contracted for. You generally don’t want to pay that kind of money for a trip that ended up being a case of “roughing it” when it was not sold as such. Sure accidents and bad luck happens, and the vendor has to make reasonable efforts to make things right. I guess that’s where the disagreements will center, can they make up for what many would consider a lousy trip. Having been in that spot myself (with airlines, not ships), it will depend on how that effort is perceived.
30 posted on 02/24/2013 8:25:25 PM PST by chimera
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To: dfwgator

A cruise even Haitians would enjoy...

Lets book!


31 posted on 02/24/2013 8:26:23 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: Right Wing Assault
After all, it could have been worse.

Remember the cruise ship that sank off the coast of South Africa 15 or so years back? The crew grabbed the lifeboats and left the passengers to fend for themselves.
32 posted on 02/24/2013 8:27:01 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: rwfromkansas

I’m not a Carnival employee, but post the youtube links of sewage and waste flowing in passageways. I found one 2-3 second clip with water coming out of a cabin’s bathroom door. Not good if your cabin but adapt to situation, overcome and be prepared with contingencies.

I’m a platinum Carnival member & we mostly cruise Carnival because they are the FunShips. We are looking to book the Legend in October out of Tampa. We were on a noro-virus cruise (Celebrity CL) and though not as difficult as being dead in the water as the Triumph was, we still enjoyed ourselves, stayed virus free and as with the Triumph no one died.

XRegulator was right the older passengers were the most enduring and positive on the noro cruise. And I’d cruise Celebrity again based on ports and price.

Carnival has always been the most tight-fisted CL, but they did step up to plate on compensation for this cruise.

Again, send me the links.


33 posted on 02/24/2013 8:31:03 PM PST by fastrock (It is never right to do wrong, even if sanctioned by law. - Abe Lincoln)
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To: dragnet2
What a moron...Why pay many thousands when you could buy a pup tent and cook some hotdogs in the back yard for 20 bucks...

Passengers got full refunds for the cruise and travel expenses, a free cruise in the future and $500.

34 posted on 02/24/2013 8:33:28 PM PST by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: chimera
You generally don’t want to pay that kind of money for a trip that ended up being a case of “roughing it”

As I understand it, they were refunded their money, given a free cruise of their choice, and $500. Yes, they had a bad vacation that didn't cost them a penny. I'm sure $500 covered their airfare.

Life is not guaranteed. I wasn't there so I will never know the real challenges, but I know they will have memories for a lifetime.

I survived the Blizzard of '77 in Buffalo. I still talk about it to this day. I mention my 'perfect' vacation in Barbados about never.

35 posted on 02/24/2013 8:35:51 PM PST by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: Jim from C-Town

“He went on a cruise, but ended up having a FREE camping trip, a GRATIS free Cruise in the future, at least $500 cash, and a good story to tell. He is a winner with a positive attitude.”
________________________________________________

Ah, the winning post on here.
What joys in life do not have some element of risk?
Ships sink, planes crash, hotels burn down...S happens.

I do not fault Carnival at all, and I think their compensation was quite fair and adequate.
The whiners, including those on this thread, should just stay in bed and never leave home.


36 posted on 02/24/2013 8:38:56 PM PST by AlexW
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To: FatherofFive

Tough times have a funny habit of becoming fond memories.

If they didn’t we’d all be miserable all the time. I thank God that I grew up poor because it made me a much happier and satisfied adult.


37 posted on 02/24/2013 8:41:46 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: cripplecreek

I think of our men and woman in the military getting freaking shot at in some third world hellhole, on one hand..

And then compare that to someone complaining because their cruise ship ran out of hot water and beef filets.

Not much sympathy from me.


38 posted on 02/24/2013 8:44:23 PM PST by HereInTheHeartland (" I paid for it, its mine and they can f**k off! " (from Mad Dawgg))
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To: willk; a fool in paradise; Slings and Arrows
Some people just get off on the smell!


39 posted on 02/24/2013 8:45:42 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: dragnet2

Poor babies; sitting out in a tropical climate under a umbrella. They better sue someone!


40 posted on 02/24/2013 8:54:53 PM PST by HereInTheHeartland (" I paid for it, its mine and they can f**k off! " (from Mad Dawgg))
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