Carnival "Legend" Experiences Technical Difficulties with Sailing Speed

[MuffyBee]

http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/3/14/carnival_legend_expe.html
Tampa based Carnival Legend experiences technical issues
March 14, 2013

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In a statement late Thursday night, Vance Gulliksen said the ship was experiencing problems with its sailing speed.

Full statement from Carnival Cruise Line:
Carnival Legend is experiencing a technical issue with one of the ship’s Azipod units that is affecting the vessel’s sailing speed.  The ship's safety systems and hotel services are all functioning normally.

The vessel made its scheduled call today in Mahogany Bay, Roatan, in addition to visiting Cozumel and Costa Maya earlier in the week.  Because of the reduction in sailing speed, tomorrow's visit to Grand Cayman has been cancelled and the ship will proceed to its homeport of Tampa, where it is expected to arrive on Sunday as scheduled.

Guests on the current voyage will receive a $100 per person credit and a full refund on pre-purchased shore excursions for Grand Cayman.  In addition, guests will receive 50 percent off a future Carnival cruise.

Carnival Legend is currently on the last leg of a seven-day Caribbean cruise that departed Tampa on Sunday, March 10.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/14/travel/carnival-problems/
Carnival cruise has problems, again
March 14, 2013

(CNN) -- Another Carnival cruise ship is having problems. This time the Carnival Legend is having technical difficulties that are affecting its sailing speed, the travel company said Thursday.
The Legend is on the last leg of a seven-day Caribbean cruise that departed Tampa on Sunday, March 10, according to a statement from the cruise company.
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Because of the problems on the Legend, Carnival said it had canceled a scheduled stop in Grand Cayman and the ship will make its trek back to it's scheduled ending destination in Tampa, Florida.
Passenger Rob Bonenfant said the mood had soured on the cruise ship.
"Passengers are now really pissed off," Bonenfant said via e-mail. "Mood on the ship is getting worse among passengers, captain is giving limited information."
Carnival has promised to refund $100 to passengers.

[MuffyBee]

It looks like folks aren't home yet, with 10 flights going out today, with more over the weekend.   The generator problems happened on the last day of the voyage, and fortunately they were in port.  I realize some don't want to make more of it than it is.  However, look at the potential if this had happened out in open sea.     When elevators don't work or work intermittenly, this can be a safety issue especially for the elderly, infirm or those with young children.  When toilets don't work or back up, that's a health issue.  It may not sound like a big deal, but remember how many folks are on the cruise ship,  Why are these power problems recurring and what are they going to do about it?

http://www.kvue.com/news/198439241.html
Make that 4: Another Carnival ship reports trouble at sea
March 15, 2013

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In a statement, Carnival said the ship's emergency diesel generator failed. The ship's next voyage was canceled, the cruise line said.
Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen said Thursday that 4,300 guests were aboard the Dream along with about 1,300 crew members. Carnival's website puts the ship's capacity at 3,646 passengers, but that's based on only two people per cabin, and some cabins hold more, Gulliksen explained.
There are also three- and four-person cabins aboard.
The first flights for passengers stranded on cruise ship Dream will begin Friday at 9 a.m. ET., starting the process of 10 flights expected to take 2,184 passengers back home Friday, Carnival said. More passengers will be taken on the weekend.
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[MuffyBee]

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/17/travel/carnival-problems/index.html
Carnival Legend back in Florida after week of troubled cruise voyages
March 17, 2013

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The Carnival Legend arrived in Tampa, Florida, hours ahead of schedule Sunday morning after propulsion system problems hampered its sailing speed.
The company had to cancel a scheduled stop on Grand Cayman because of the technical difficulty.
But Carnival Cruise Lines said the Legend is still scheduled to head out for its next voyage on time Sunday afternoon while technicians continue working on the repairs.
"The ship is expected to operate its normal itinerary with the exception of one port -- Grand Cayman -- which is being replaced by Costa Maya," Carnival said in a statement. "Any guests wishing not to proceed based on the change to one port of call have been given the option of canceling and receiving a full refund."
The company stressed that all safety systems, steering and hotel services were functioning normally.
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One U.S. lawmaker said Sunday that the recent cruise incidents prompted him to propose a "Cruise Ship Passenger Bill of Rights."
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said he was asking the cruise industry to voluntarily sign on to a list of guidelines, including the right to backup power if generators fail and the right to disembark a docked ship "if basic provisions cannot adequately be provided on board."
He also called on the International Maritime Organization to investigate whether cruise lines are following existing guidelines, and whether existing standards are being enforced by countries where cruise ships that serve U.S. passengers are based.
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