Cruise Talk: More troubles for Carnival

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Topic: More troubles for Carnival

Terry
First Class Passenger
Member # 448

posted 07-21-2000 03:37 PM

The following was Published Thursday, July 20, 2000, in the Miami Herald

Carnival cancels two more cruises
Paradise woes hurt earnings
CYNTHIA CORZO
ccorzo@herald.com

Carnival Corp. has canceled two more cruises on the crippled Paradise liner because of a malfunction in one of the ship's propulsion units -- a breakdown that will hurt the company's earnings.

Carnival estimated Wednesday that third-quarter earnings will be down three cents a share because Paradise will be out of service for at least four cruises. Analysts had estimated that Carnival's earnings for the third quarter would be 68 cents per share.

The ship, which is headed this week to a Newport News, Va., shipyard for repairs, will not be available for cruises on July 30 or Aug. 6. Passengers with reservations for those dates will be given a full refund, plus a 50 percent discount on a future three- to seven-day Carnival cruise.

The Azipod propulsion units -- electrical motors with propellers attached -- on the Paradise were damaged Sunday shortly after the ship sailed from Miami for a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise. The ship immediately returned to port.

These units differ from standard propulsion devices because they rotate 360 degrees. They make ships easier to maneuver, increase fuel efficiency, take up less space and make less noise.

It was still unclear Wednesday what happened to the Paradise's starboard Azipod unit, but a preliminary diagnosis pointed to a damaged seal that let sea water enter the propulsion device and damaged it, Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said.

``It's a very complicated problem,'' de la Cruz said. ``We are waiting for parts to arrive from Europe.''

===Ends===

Terry Donegan

Posts: 391 | From: Brandon, Norfolk, UK | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

CruiseHappy2
Just Boarded
Member # 1449

posted 07-22-2000 11:50 AM

Thanks for the input on the Paradise. We will be sailing, hopefully, September 17. Living in Nevada, we don't hear much about the cruising industry in Miami, and would appreciate any updates. Even Carnival's website did not mention the cancellations.

Debbie

Posts: 5 | From: Las Vegas, NV USA | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

cruiseman
First Class Passenger
Member # 885

posted 07-22-2000 12:14 PM

Debbie -

you can keep track thru Carnival's website under Press Releases. It tells of a couple of cancellations at this point.

Posts: 59 | From: Leavenworth, KS, USA | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

Fanatic
First Class Passenger
Member # 1427

posted 07-22-2000 01:21 PM

I don't mean to sound nasty or generalize, although that's probably what this is going to sound like, but it almost seems that Carnival is becoming the United Airlines of the cruise industry (did anyone see the latest news report of all the problems UA is having?). I've never sailed on a Carnival ship, but I'm a "frequent flier" with UA and this just all seems too eerie. Maybe when something gets too big, it just becomes too big to handle. Sorry for sounding so morose.

Fanatic

Posts: 98 | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

CruiseHappy2
Just Boarded
Member # 1449

posted 07-22-2000 02:53 PM

Thanks, cruiseman. I guess I neglected to click on the news item to bring up the story. Really looking forward to this cruise on the Paradise and sincerely hope everything is repaired soon.

Posts: 5 | From: Las Vegas, NV USA | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

CrusinAngel
Just Boarded
Member # 1453

posted 07-23-2000 10:27 PM

ONLY 50%???? I would expect a free cruise if my cruise were cancelled! Am I the only one that thinks this is ludicrous?

Posts: 8 | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 07-24-2000 08:18 PM

We only wish that you would be given a free cruise but it almost seems to be a system wide standard, full refund and 50% off of your next cruise but it has to be used within one year and it is off the book price not a sale price. I wonder if they will also refund your airfare whether you book it through the cruise company or not. I know you don't get half off your airfare, just the cabin and I don't think you get half off the port taxes or fuel surcharges either.

Toobadsosadreally

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 07-25-2000 09:21 AM

The 50% off your next cruise is off the best price available at time of booking, not off the brochure rate. The airfare is at full price and of course the port taxes would be at full price since the cruise lines have nothing to do with that.

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 07-25-2000 10:53 AM

50% off is fair. Expecting a full refund
and 100% is unrealistic.
There are those who expect a full refund
when seas are rough too.....what is this
world coming to??????

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Paddy
First Class Passenger
Member # 357

posted 07-25-2000 01:35 PM

100% is perfectly reasonable. When you wait all your for a vacation of a lifetime and it is cancelled, there should be compensation. P&O showed everyone how it should be done when Aurora broke down on her maiden voyage. For a lot of people, a cancellation is enough to put you off that line for a life (except for a free cruise), so many of the 50% discounts will never be realised.

Paddy.

Posts: 763 | From: Belfast, Ireland | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

jean elmore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1192

posted 07-25-2000 06:55 PM

Carnival surely has its share of problems, and in the paper today I read where 10 Haitians stowed away from Nassau and were arrested in Miami and a 9 year old walked on the Sensation in New Orleans unacompanied and was found 2 hrs. after sailing, where is the security on these ships? I wouldn`t like to think just anyone could walk on any of the ships I`m on......jean.

Posts: 68 | From: obetz oh. usa | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 07-25-2000 08:34 PM

A full refund and 50% off the next cruise seems fair to me. I might expect more if the cancellation came very close to sailing date but when you have a couple of months to make other arrangements - it's fair. Airline tickets (unless you've booked a charter) usually have a penalty clause and for about $100. your dates can be changed.
Think positive.

The Aurora was an entirely diferent matter - believe they did what was right in those circumstances.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

CrusinAngel
Just Boarded
Member # 1453

posted 07-29-2000 01:56 AM

Thank you Paddy! In retrospect, Royal Caribbean gave Celebrity passengers a full refund AND a free cruise when they cancelled the first sailing of the Millenium. We all know how much of a nightmare RCI had when the Monarch ran aground-also a full refund AND a free cruise. I think I'll stay with RCI and it just goes to show they value their passengers.

Posts: 8 | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 07-29-2000 08:21 AM

The Aurora and Millenium were very different
matters. In the case of Carnival, A full
refund and 50% off another cruise is fair.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 07-29-2000 09:25 AM

The passengers on the July 16 sailing of the Paradise did receive full refund and a free cruise. When two of RCI's ships had mechanical problems over spring break last year the passengers received a full refund and a 50% off next cruise certificate. They didn't treat their passengers any better than Carnival did in this case.

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 07-29-2000 09:58 AM

When we had our cruise canceled two weeks prior to the sailing date, on the Grandeur of the Seas,we got a refund and 50% off a cruise on the Mercury. Basically, they charged for one person on the later.(At brochure rates). The passengers who were scheduled sooner, got a free cruise.

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 07-29-2000 11:15 AM

I would be ticked if they cancelled our criuse even if they did give a full refund plus a free cruise. The only time we can go on a cruise is one week in March which falls on March break the most expensive time of year,I think. I would be devastated, it would mean waiting a whole year without our dreamed about cruise( who would ever know we've only been on one cruise !) But to get your vacation cancelled and given a full refund plus 50% off would be an insult to me.I think its the cruise lines problem so they should fix it. Don't tell me they don't have huge profits very year. The comment about the effect this would have on especially first time cruisers was right on. They may never give this cruise a chance again. Boy that felt good to get that off my chest. =

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

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