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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: rwfromkansas

“had known engine problems”

I’m amazed that a mishap in one engine room would knock out so much of the auxiliary power on the boat. Seems like not a good way to design a large boat, but then I don’t know much about this particular situation.


61 posted on 02/25/2013 4:55:25 AM PST by cymbeline
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To: dragnet2

“Cruises are for the easily amused, shut-ins and others who what to spend their time with a bunch of strangers.”

You’re not alone, believe me. My wife & I would far rather spend a week at the beach, go for beach walks, get our own meals or go out for dinner, see local sights, come & go as we please. Dependence upon others minimized.

Went on our honeymoon cruise in 1983 on a converted passenger liner already thirty years old. Enjoyed it greatly, at least we were on board a real ship, not a floating casino/mall.


62 posted on 02/25/2013 4:58:42 AM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: FatherofFive
I understand things happen and in this case it appears that the company has made a good-faith effort to make things right. If it were me, that's all I would ask. Sometimes the dice roll against us. I'm guessing it is a rare occurrence and in any case it appears no one was killed or seriously injured. That can't be said of other types of transportation accidents. I guess it's human nature to look to cast blame on someone when things don't go your way. The major loss here seems to be time and convenience, which, while not trivial, are not in the same category as health, life, or limb.
63 posted on 02/25/2013 5:12:39 AM PST by chimera
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To: dragnet2
Why pay many thousands when you could buy a pup tent and cook some hotdogs in the back yard for 20 bucks

I've got five inches of snow in my backyard so it ain't gonna happen soon.............LOL!

64 posted on 02/25/2013 5:21:54 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Jab her with a harpoon or just throw her from the train......)
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To: FatherofFive
I mention my 'perfect' vacation in Barbados about never.

My brother-in-law is from Honduras and I've gone with he and my sister and their family on vacations there many times. And on every trip there was a significant event where my friends would ask me why the hell I go there......LOL!

I wouldn't trade those memories for the world........

65 posted on 02/25/2013 5:42:06 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (Jab her with a harpoon or just throw her from the train......)
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To: elcid1970

Cruises aren’t for me but if I ever do take one it will be a great lakes cruise. Partly because its different and they cater to older people who are far better company on an extended trip.

I personally have no problem listening to an old man drone on about the history of a lighthouse or little town on the shore.


66 posted on 02/25/2013 7:31:02 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: dragnet2
Oh, please, Slipping on human waste, what a load of human waste. Where they unable to see? I am quite certain that there was very few who had little more than an inconvenience and a less than pleasant night or two of sleep.

We are all so spoiled today that if anything out of the ordinary and expected happens than it is a major event.

Nobody died, not even close, no passengers where injured or sickened, not even close. They simply had a bad vacation experience due to the fact that there was a fire in the ships engine room.

These things happen. Life is messy.

They where offered fair compensation, if they chose to sue, they will probably get less. All those ships are registered in foreign countries and are not subject to American courts. Maritime law is much less inclined to the whims of the crybaby spoiled American tourist.

67 posted on 02/25/2013 7:44:58 AM PST by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
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To: cripplecreek

Agree. We have been looking at river cruises. Mississippi or the Danube, it’s 100 passengers or less, pleasant company likely, and if something goes wrong with the boat, the dry riverbank is RIGHT THERE!

;^)


68 posted on 02/25/2013 7:47:10 AM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: Casie

I love Cruises !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can;t wait to do it again this summer!!! Woot Woot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


69 posted on 02/25/2013 7:54:13 AM PST by angcat
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To: dragnet2

Doesn’t look that bad.

There was a storm on the East Coast a few months ago, knocked out the electric. I, in Cleveland, OH close to 500 miles away, lost power for a week. This in the middle of the country, in the middle of the winter.

Some people STILL are living in tents and have no electric in Long Island and we are supposed to believe that a bunch of tourists will be permanently damaged because they had to poop in a bag and sleep on deck for a few days?

Hardly!


70 posted on 02/25/2013 7:54:38 AM PST by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
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To: South40

bttt


71 posted on 02/25/2013 8:05:44 AM PST by Cvengr (Adversity in life and death is inevitable. Thru faith in Christ, stress is optional.)
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To: angcat

lol! excited much? haha! I’m glad you are looking forward to something fun, my FRiend. :)


72 posted on 02/25/2013 8:16:42 AM PST by Casie (Chuck Norris 2016)
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To: dragnet2

All that fun for only about $1,200 per person. Sounds heavenly. :-)


73 posted on 02/25/2013 8:41:03 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: willk

Sounded like fun to me, glad he agreed it was.


74 posted on 02/25/2013 8:48:25 AM PST by ctdonath2 (3% of the population perpetrates >50% of homicides...but gun control advocates blame metal boxes.)
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To: willk

As this thread demonstrates, cruises are very polarizing. You either hate them or love them.

That being said, cruising used to be better. They now have this “freestyle” crap where you can eat in one of several different restaurants. What they don’t tell you (before you book the cruise) is that you have to make reservations BEFORE the ship sails, or you won’t get a table. They also play down the fact that in these “restaurants” the food you would want - say lobster or steak - is extra. You can always get a table in the regular dining room or buffet, but the food choices there tend to be not quite up to the selection or quality in the specialty restaurants.

Other things that used to be free - like soft drinks and basic port tours - are also now extra.

Cruises used to offer “classes” to bring you up to speed on the port you would be visiting next. These have now turned into sales presentations to get you to go to particular stores or restaurants which, of course, the cruise line has a financial interest in.

I still like cruising, but if you don’t know what you are getting into, it can be quite a shock to the wallet.


75 posted on 02/25/2013 8:51:47 AM PST by Crusher138 ("Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just")
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To: HereInTheHeartland

remember who are the passengers are carnival.

old people.

drunk people looking to be laid. (ie no neighbors to rat on you)

fat people.

brats.

You also have knowitalls who think they know better than EVERYONE how to deal with an emergency. (ie drill another hold and let the water pour out of the second hole)

-generally the know it alls did not read the limitation of liability on their ticket which does bind them. AND. The do not know about the international treaties that also limit their claims.


76 posted on 02/25/2013 9:04:13 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Casie
Once you try it it is allot of fun. I found it to be the most relaxing vacation I have ever had. The kids are happy and not bored I don't have to hang out on some god forsaken Boardwalk which I hate. :) A quick two hour ride and I'm on my ship!!!!!!!!!! Happy Happy Happy!
77 posted on 02/25/2013 9:21:43 AM PST by angcat
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To: longtermmemmory
Makes sense.

It probably wasn't fun all the time for people on the ship; especially if they were looking forward to some down time and having fun.

But those folks need to put things in perspective. Stuff happens. Things much worse could have happened to them. They weren't being shot at, no one died, etc...

78 posted on 02/25/2013 9:55:42 AM PST by HereInTheHeartland (" I paid for it, its mine and they can f**k off! " (from Mad Dawgg))
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To: Hot Tabasco
I've got five inches of snow in my backyard so it ain't gonna happen soon.............LOL!

Sue Algore! He promised you global warming!

79 posted on 02/25/2013 2:20:07 PM PST by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: FatherofFive

Yep.

We were on Moorea in 2000 when the entire island went on strike. Our package was w/Sofitel (not the greatest, especially considering all the French management and French workers on a subsidized vacation)and the only hotel on the island that was not struck was the American Sheraton. It seems those Americans treated their workers well.

There was no service and no hot food at the French resort during the strike. All communication was by fax to France. Not one person in management was forthcoming with anything, mainly because the time difference meant they had zero guidance from HQ.

The Americans were having a party at the pool and sharing whatever food and drink we had in our rooms, the best of it courtesy of a newly-wed couple who had gratis fruit and champagne and juice. The French were pissed and continued to ignore anyone who wasn’t French. The Germans packed their bags and sat like overdressed robots in the heat while we all waited for the bus transfer to the Sheraton.

The Sheraton was far superior to the Sofitel. We were not charged extra for a considerable upgrade in amenities. To make it even better, the Sheraton was on the site we had loved back in 1975 when we first visited Moorea.

An adventure that ended well.


80 posted on 02/25/2013 7:14:13 PM PST by reformedliberal
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