Fellow Fire Cruisers

[txtara]

Just a quick question:


Has anyone who sent letters into DCL heard back from them yet?

 

[Joe & Joanne]

Hi Folks

Was wondering just what your letter would have asked/said?

hhhmmm

 

[Hopkins]

The response from the cruise line shouldn't be too difficult. They must know what started the fire. I'm still curious what kind of fire it was, where it was located (incinerator or engine room), why it started, precautions that are taken so it won't happen again... those kind of questions. I trust DCL, but I still would like to know.

Tina

 

[Joe & Joanne]

Hi Folks

Ok here goes

Dear DCL Fire Passenger,

We recently had a fire on board that was extinguished by our competent crew. The fire was hot and precautions have been put in place that may or may not ever prevent another fire on board. We hope you arrived home safely.

 

[Hopkins]

That's probably close. Eventually, there will be an offical government report somewhere as with the Carnival fire with safety recommendations to other cruise lines.
I guess DCL owes the passengers no explanation except that the ship is safe. Not the way I'd do things.

Just my 2 cents.
Tina

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I talked to an officer on the Disney Magic on the 3/23 cruise after one of the Navigator Series sessions.

The material that burned at the top of the stack was fiberglass. It was considered safe and proper according to applicable codes when the Disney Magic was built, but he suggested that as part of the repair, it would probably be replaced with a material other than fiberglass.

He didn't give an official cause of the fire, but I got the impression that the some sort of burning material emerged from one of the pipes, ignited something at the top of the stack, and spread to more of the fiberglass material. He called it a "serious fire."

The damage was limited to the top of the stack. Even the lighting booth, the food service facilities, and the stairs to the Mickey Slide in the stack structure emerged unharmed except for some water (from the water that was used to extinguish the flames).

 

[plutospup]

Received reply this week. Re: fire "...we are truly grateful for your understanding and support during your voyage. The safety, comfort, and well being of our guests are of paramount importance to us, and Capt. Hans Mateboer, his officers, and crew endeavored to deliver a great guest experience despite the early morning disruption."

Hmmm. A fire aboard ship is now only an "early morning disruption".

 

[slindamood]

My mother and daughter were evacuated from their room due to a fire in an equipment room on the Dec. 22 Magic cruise. Due to smoke and water damage in their room, they were not allowed back in their room that night and only on occasion the last 2 days of the cruise.

Disney sent a letter saying that they were sorry for the "inconvenience. " Not once was the word "fire" used.

Because of the fire, they were downgraded from their category 3 room to a category 6 for the rest of the cruise. They were given nothing for the downgrade (except a certificate for 25% off on a future cruise. Everyone on board got an opportunity to book at 50% off on a future cruise, so it was an offer without substance.)

 

[Gillian]

It's likely their lawyers are advising them not to say anything else!

I'm sorry you guys had an adventure like that! I hope that our cruise does not have any early morning disruptions

 

[DisneyKids]

I understand everyones curiosity and need for explanation but I'm not sure what we can expect DCL to say. Does anyone expect them to say it was a very dangerous fire and refer to the early morning awakening as a life saving experience due to a very dangerous and life threatening situation? They are just using generic terms to soften the blow. Sort of like we do to our kids in those types of situations.

Maybe I'm in the minority but it seems they are reacting as anyone would.

 

[str6]

I also was on the fire cruise. It was a "very serious" fire. I fully expect Disney to act like a professional company. They are not parents, and we are not their children, therefore I do not expect the words to be generic to soften the blow. They should be honest and act with integrity.

 

[Joe & Joanne]

Hi Folks

Well, there may be recourse in the courts? What does the "Contract of Passage" say?

 

[KMovies]

Question -


While I am sure that those couple of hours were scary, and that 1/3 of the ship waiting had to wait on deck for up to two hours was hard(the rest stay in the WD theatre and Animator's Palate), the cruise continued, no ports were missed, no meals missed, no activities missed, just a couple of hours sleep were lost and a pool was closed (and they opened the crew pool to compensate for that as well).

Outside of anyone getting sick from any smoke (I did see reports of that), what recourse would there be? They gave every state room $100 credit. On a previous cruise people got a voucher for a half price cruise when they missed Castaway Cay due to a mechanical problem - people complained that they had to spend money to get compensation. This time they got the immediate credit. I am sure people want more - even a 100% refund. But really, what should they be entiled to - what would be fair?

Didn't most people enjoy the cruise despite the fire. If people were taken off the ship, shipped home on another cruise ship early, If people were injuried, lost posessions due to the fireand all - that would have been a completely different story.

Let's be fair to Disney and not take advantage of the situation. I believe maybe $100 was too little, but really, not sure what a fair amount would have been. A half price cruise may have been fair - but people would have complained about that. Bet if they offered $100 or a half price cruise - people would have snapped up the half price cruises.

I know I would have.

Not sure if they have any recourse through the courts unless they were injuried.

 

[DopeyRN]

I agree with Kmovie....I'll be willing to bet the kids will remember their adventure for a long time.

The person who deserves serious compensation is the one who was downgraded because the room they paid for was inhabitable. No way should they have to walk away without a refund of at least half of their current cruise...for the inconvenience and the diappointment of losing the nicer room...

 

[Joe & Joanne]

Hi Folks

DopeyRN, I second that one wholeheartedly

 

[KMovies]

Very good point DopeyRN - can't believe that they didn't do more for that person. If it were an upgrade, that would be different.

 

[plutospup]

...Just a couple of hours of sleep were lost, and a pool was closed...
Are you kidding?
1. Fire on land is serious.
2. Fire on a ship is extremely serious! (Self sustainable structure)
3. The Mickey Pool area is a focal area of the ship. A large percentage of passengers use this area daily. This pool is designed for children. With 800 children on board this was an important part of their cruise.
4. Explain to my daughter she can't use the Mickey Slide or pool for the remainder of the cruise.
5. Psycological factor. There definitely was a different atmosphere on the Magic Thursday & Friday, CM's and passengers alike. Several people I talked to were very anxious to get to Castaway Cay simply because they were getting off the ship for awhile.
6. A few hours of lost sleep...during vacation are valuable.

The fire significantly affected 2 days of the cruise for our family of three. That was worth considerably more than $100.

 

[str6]

I agree with you Plutospup.
It seems the people who are willing to comment on what they would do and what Disney should do were not on the ship during the fire. I don't think they realize how scary it is just to "sit on the front porch as your house is buring with no place to go." I don't think that until you actually experience the situation that you could understand.

 

[KMovies]

Yes, Fire on Land is serious.

Yes, Fire on a ship is more serious.

Yet, they contained it, and that is what they were trained for.

Yes, you would have enjoyed the cruise more if there had been no fire - no doubt about that. The fire should have never happened, but no one can prevent such a situation.

Yes, the kids had to use another pool - and it is hard to explain to a child what happened. But there are a lot of things in life that are hard to explain to a child. It is part of growing up.

Yes, you did deserve more than $100. The cruise continued - and that wouldn't have happened if the fire had gotton out of control and if the crew was ill-prepared to handle it.

 

[plutospup]

Yes, the crew deserves to be applauded for a fine job. That morning the staff on deck 4 said the muster went better than a normal Saturday drill!

Yes, the cruise did go on. The staff did a wonderful job, but EVERYONE's mind, even the CM's was on the fire. They were as concerned as the passengers.

re: fire "..but no one could prevent such a situation."
Does anyone know the actual cause of the fire. What did the report say? Although some fires are an "Act of God", many fires are preventable.