Viral clip shows issue with Carnival Vista ship during Southern Caribbean voyage
Mayhem broke out on a recent Carnival cruise ship with a passenger sharing a clip showing the technical issue that caused it to change locations.
Mayhem broke out on a recent Carnival cruise ship with a passenger sharing a clip showing the technical issue that caused it to change locations.
When passengers abroad Carnival Vista were told it wasn’t going to its intended destination in the Caribbean, hundreds were left fuming with a clip of the chaos going viral.
The eight-night Southern Caribbean cruise left Port Canaveral, Florida on August 10 and was intended to stop in Aruba, Curacao and Turks and Cacaos.
However, due to an engine problem, the cruise line had to alter the itinerary, instead heading to the Bahamas, making stops at Nassau, Princess Cays, Freeport, and Half Moon Cay,
A Carnival cruise spokesperson told the New York Post a “technical issue” had affected the ship’s cruising speed.
New footage shared by a passenger standing at the back of the vessel shows the alleged propeller issue that affected the vessel’s speed — in turn changing the course of the itinerary.
“Typically the ship has two wakes coming out – and see right now it only has one wake,” the passenger said as he pointed to the working wake.
“This propeller on this side is working (on the right). This propeller on this side (left) is not working.
“So the ship goes a little slower. We’re only doing about 11 to 12 knots which is super slow for a cruise ship, it normally goes 18 to 20 knots.”
He said this limits where you can go on the ship, adding it was now heading to the Bahamas which he didn’t have a problem with.
“I am fine with it,” he said.
However, not everyone shared his stance, with a viral clip from August 28 showing passengers loosing it when they learned on the day of departure of the change in itinerary.
“Give us our money,” several guests chanted as cruise staff attempted to explain the situation.
The cruise line did offer a $US400 ($A600) on-board voucher or full refund for any guests who wished to cancel their trip despite the revised itinerary — but many were still left disappointed.
In the clip, a staffer stood before hundreds of guests apologising for the change in itinerary as he explained that due to s technical issue the ship “simply doesn’t have the power” to go on to its intended destination.
“On behalf of Carnival, ourselves and all the crew, our apologies over what’s happened,” the staffer said.
“It’s not something that is under our control unfortunately. We had a technical issue as we were coming in this morning, hence we have a delay arriving.
“Our technicians have been working on it on-board. The long and short of it is it’s an ongoing live issue.
“We had to make an itinerary change because we simply don’t have the power to get to where we want to go.”
He then explained guests can opt for a refund and also have $US400 ($A600) credits to use on-board.
An eight-day cruise aboard the Vista averages $US779 ($A11700) per person.
“We communicated directly with guests on board regarding their options for the sailing,” Carnival told the New York Post in a statement.
“Those that sailed were given an on-board credit as well as a future cruise credit toward another cruise to make up for the unexpected change, and those who preferred not to sail were offered a 100 per cent refund.”
Even with the choice of not cruising to the Bahamas, passengers were still frustrated.
“They knew about the problem prior to us getting onto the ship,” Ashley Ball told Inside Edition.
“They just didn’t say that until we were already on the ship, and, you know, went through customs and the lines and securities and all that, and then decided to display that information.”
However, others have taken to social media to defend the cruise liner, saying passengers would have signed contracts that explained ports can change at any time.
“You signed a contract stating ports may change,” one person wrote on TikTok
“Was on the Vista in June. Deck 11 balcony room. Hottest ship I have EVER BEEN ON,” another said.
“Was just on the Vista, was actually my best Carnival cruise,” said another.
Spencer Aronfeld, a cruise ship lawyer from Florida, who shared a TikTok about the saga, said under federal maritime law and under the contract passengers have with Carnival, “the cruise line can change its itinerary for basically any reason at all, anytime for whatever they want”.
“Whatever is in the best interest of the passengers and the vessel and most likely Carnival,” he added.
Many flooded the comments section saying they would have been disappointed if they were told they were going to a location, and then didn’t.
“I choose cruises based on where its going. This cruise was supposed to go to Aruba & they removed that stop. I’ve always wanted to go to Aruba. If the ship was no longer going there I’d be upset,” one viewer said.
“I don’t think they should get a full refund, but I do think Carnival should have notified them of the itinerary change before the day of the cruise,” wrote another.
Some claimed the liner needs to “do better maintenance on their ships”.
“With how much people pay, there isn’t any reason dry dock isn’t done every year (sic)!” One person wrote.
“We were on the Vista 8/10-8/18 and had our ports changed due to the propulsion issues,” said another.
The Vista which has since been on several voyages since the August 10 departure has reportedly had its September 7 departure from Port Canaveral cancelled, Inside Edition reported.
News.com.au has contacted Carnival for comment.
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