If you were on the Carnival Splendor right now...

[tammymacb]

how would you be coping?

* Just in case you missed the news, the Carnival Splendor had a fire in it's aft engine room on Monday, knocking out the engines, the air conditioning, hot water, flush toilets, telephones, and the ability to cook food*

I've been following the news reports...and my DH is like, "Thank the lucky stars YOU aren't on that ship, I can't imagine how well you'd be coping." I admit it, he's correct. I would not do well with the stink the heat or the spam...

Now, I'm not knocking Carnival, we've done a few of their cruises on their new ships and they were fine...

I'm just admitting one of my ( many ) short falls. I do not do well with coping with certain circumstances...and patience is not one of my virtues.

How would you be coping right now? Would you be in the miserable camp, or would you find it an adventure?

 

[erincon23]

I don't think I'd be very happy, but I'm a "roll with the punches" type of person -- I think I'd try to find the things you could still do and make the best of it! And I'd be looking forward to my next (FREE) cruise!

 

[Darcy03231]

I'd be making the best of it (and by the way they do have flush toilets - cold water/sewage was restored on Monday night). There's nothing the cruise line could be doing right now that isn't being done. All of the moaning in the world isn't going to change the circumstances.

While I'll admit that cold water wash up and cold food wouldn't be ideal, its not the end of the world. I try to look on the bright side, it would only be 4-5 days. People who've been in a natural disaster often go more than 4-5 days without electricity, hot food and hot water.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Pretty sure I would have jumped overboard already.

 

[tammymacb]

From what I've heard on this evenings reports- toilets are flushing in the higher decks. Those in the low decks are having to hike up to the 3rd or 4th deck to get to working toilets.

Also, they have had a few cell phone interviews this evening with folks on the ship. One stated the worst part, at this point, was "the stench". Ack.

 

[NVDisMom]

I haven't followed the news stories all that closely so I don't know how bad it really is or isn't, but I am like the previous poster and would try to make the best of it. If the kids were with us we'd be playing a lot of family games. If they weren't...well, DH and I can entertain ourselves. I'm sure the wine and other spirits on board are available for sale still. We could certainly put together a decent picnic with wine and cold buffet type items for more meals than not. We'd be looking for places that others weren't hanging out in, that way we could avoid as much of the crankiness as possible. In the end its as bad as you make it, or as good as you make it. Its a free vacation at this point and another one for the future to boot. Stuff happens and its not always preventable.

 

[ontariomonkey]

I'd be having a grand old time reading my book and chatting to the other passengers.

I was on a Princess ship this summer that became disabled because the engines went down. This only lasted a few hours but the worst thing was no water, so no toilet flushing. So go to the bathroom in a dirty public toilet (no thanks, I'll hold it) and then not be able to wash your hands!! Yuck.

Personally once I was fed I was happy so since the Carnival passengers DO have cold water including toilets, I would be fine. We had no hot food, no lights in the cabins, no air conditioning, no elevators so lots of people were having a difficult time but I was ok. And the atmosphere was very jovial. People were very kind "how are you coping?" etc.

And a free cruise! Hello!

Problem is, people will still have to pay for transport to thier next cruise.

 

[SaraJayne]

Honestly, not very well. Poptarts, spam and no hot water (not to mention the temps outside with no a/c) would send me over the edge.

 

[Mermaid02]

It's not really a "free" cruise though- or are they refunding their monies AND giving them a free cruise??

It wouldn't be good for us- my son has some sensory issues and smells is one of them.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Honestly, not very well. Poptarts, spam and no hot water (not to mention the temps outside with no a/c) would send me over the edge.

I'll help you swim.

 

[ilovepcot]

Carnival would have probably found a way to get me off the ship by now...helicopter, smaller power boat sent out to get me...anything they could. I don't "roll with the punches" and everyone on that ship would be climbing the walls because of me. Oh yeah!

 

[tammymacb]

It's not really a "free" cruise though- or are they refunding their monies AND giving them a free cruise??

It wouldn't be good for us- my son has some sensory issues and smells is one of them.

Carnival is refunding the cruise fare and giving a voucher for a free cruise.

 

[Scurvy]

It's not really a "free" cruise though- or are they refunding their monies AND giving them a free cruise??

It wouldn't be good for us- my son has some sensory issues and smells is one of them.

According to what I heard this morning, they are getting refunds and also vouchers for a free cruise in the future. I would appreciate that if I was on there - I know the company is doing the best they can at this point - but I still wouldn't be happy. We can't get away that often, and I'd hate to waste our valuable vacation time dealing with this sort of situation. Eating Spam and taking cold showers is not my idea of a vacation!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I would NOT be happy, but with no other option I would trying to do the best I could. Probably complaining up one side and down the other to DH but keeping my mouth shut around the kids and most others. Can't stand crabmeat, spam or poptarts but I guess I would do what I had to. The no toilets would have been a huge issue for me, and I don't do well with smells so I think I would just be sleeping on deck.

I have to say that given the option to stay on the ship for 24 more hours and get to San Diego vs. the original plan of docking in Ensenada and taking a bus back I would absolutely want to stay on the ship. In fact I think I would begging and pleading not to have to get off the ship. From what I have read the bus ride would not be pleasant and that there could be security issues. Plus the way that the timing was working it I think it would have been miserable.

I would cruise again and would be grateful for the fact that we were being compensated. I think that Carnival is being mostly fair in what they offering. The only think I would want would be instead of a future cruise equal to what you paid for this one, I would just want an equal cruise-- same length, same cabin level, similar itinerary. If you got a great deal for this one then it could be very difficult to find another cruise at that same price.

And may I just say-- ALWAYS TAKE A PASSPORT when you are leaving the country. I refused to go without on our cruises, even though not required. While this has ended up okay (assuming they make to San Diego) the logistics they have had to already work on for those with passports has to have been crazy.

Honestly, not very well. Poptarts, spam and no hot water (not to mention the temps outside with no a/c) would send me over the edge.

Temps outside are highs in the 60's, lows in the 40s. No ac is only a problem on the lower inside cabins where it is dark and stuffy from what I have read.

 

[golfgal]

The no shower thing would make me feel yucky but for the rest of it, oh well, stuff happens. I would be spending time figuring out when I wanted to take my next free trip too

 

[MushyMushy]

I'd be fine -- maybe a little grumbly to my husband/family, but I wouldn't take it out on the staff. My biggest problem would be the other passengers.

 

[C.Ann]

Still out to sea? If so, I would be so deathly sick from that alone I probably wouldn't even notice.. LOL.. I don't do well on boats - of any kind..

 

[BubblPopElectrc]

Pretty sure I would have jumped overboard already.

LOL, you and me both.

 

[Carlyzmom]

I wouldn't be thrilled, but I'd try to make the best of it. I would be mad if my Kindle ran out of battery though!!!

 

[mickeyboat]

I would be fine as long as my toilet worked and there was still plenty of alcohol available.