Hi Everyone,
Stephanie again. Here’s the latest update on the Carnival Splendor.
Miami, FL — November 9, 2010 (8:15 pm EST) — At approximately 6 am Monday morning (U.S. Pacific Standard Time), a fire was detected in the aft engine room aboard the cruise ship Carnival Splendor. The fire was extinguished. There were no injuries to guests or crew.
The ship has been operating on auxiliary generators and engineers have been unable to restore additional power to the vessel. Thus far, one tug boat has reached the ship and has begun towing with additional tugs en route to expedite the vessel’s return.
Given the ship’s speed and current position, we have decided to take the vessel to San Diego where it is expected to arrive late Thursday. Additionally, we are in the process of making all the necessary hotel and flight arrangements for our guests. If the ship is unable to maintain sufficient speed under tow, it is possible that we could revert to the previous plan and dock in Ensenada.Last night, the ship’s engineers were able to restore toilet service to most cabins and all public bathrooms, as well as cold running water. Currently several key hotel systems, including air conditioning, hot food service and telephones, are not available. The ship’s crew continues to actively work to restore other services.
Guests are able to move about the ship and food and beverage service, along with some shipboard programming, including children’s activities and entertainment, are being provided.
The vessel’s command is in contact with the U.S. Coast Guard which has deployed assets to the cruise ship’s location and is assisting in providing additional provisions which became necessary due to the lack of refrigeration on board.
Guests on the current voyage will be receiving a full refund along with reimbursement for transportation costs. Additionally, they will receive a complimentary future cruise equal to the amount paid for this voyage.
Carnival Splendor was on the first leg of a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise that departed Sunday, Nov. 7, from Long Beach, Calif. The ship’s normal itinerary includes stops in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The ship, which measures 113,000 gross registered tons and first entered service in July 2008, is carrying 3,299 guests and 1,167 crew.
Carnival has also made the decision to cancel the Nov. 14 seven-day cruise from Long Beach. Guests scheduled to sail on this voyage will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and air transportation costs, along with a 25 percent discount on a future cruise.
“We sincerely apologize to our guests for this unfortunate situation and offer our thanks for their patience and cooperation during this challenging time. The safety and comfort of our guests is our top priority and we are doing everything we can to allow them to return home as quickly as possible. We also apologize for having to cancel the next voyage of the Carnival Splendor. We realize how much guests look forward to their vacations and we know how disheartening it is to have their plans disrupted,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO.
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Thanks for the update! We appreciate it. Please pass our well wishes on to John and the crew.
we sailed in sept. 2008. awesome time. service&staff was excellent!! thank god everyone is safe&others are coming to your rescue. truly an experience you will one day share with your grandchildren. many are praying for you; keep the faith!!
We sailed from Oct. 24th until the 31st & had a wonderful time. I am so sorry that this happened. What an absolutely depressing thing to those aboard. Carnival goes out of it’s way to make your time aboard the best it can be. Thank you for a most wonderful vacation, Carnival.
Hang in there! We are thinking of all of you and thanking God you all are alive and well..
So glad things are underway to get everyone home! Please keep us updated as to whether they come to San Diego, as we would like to go down to the embarcadero and welcome them home!
Thank-you for the updates,will be happy to hear when everyone safely gets to land so they can get in contact with their families .
Thoughts are with all of you, captain, crew, guests, John and Steph, the tugs, US Coast Guard.. Whole aboard the Miracle we discussed being dead in the water with our waiter Subi, who had experienced this once in the 90′s. Stay safe. Love & light to you!
Kathie (kaperino)
Thanks for the update! Best wishes to all involved!
Thank you for the update Stephanie. Glad to hear they are now under tow and moving toward San Diego or Ensenada. Wish I could get some time off, I’d fly out there to take our dear John some fresh underpants….which we KNOW he needs by now!
Steve O
Stephanie
Thank you for thinking of us and keeping us updated.. Our thoughts are with those on the ship and the Carnival staff as they work through such a trying event.. The Sagara’s
Thanks for the update.
John, the rest of the crew, and the passengers have a safe journey back to port.
To All thoes aboard the Carnival Splendor, our prayers are with you. May you arrive to the comforts our your home quickly and safetly. You are in good hands as Carnival works diligently to ensure your comfort as best as possible and continues to make safety thier top concern.
God bless you all.
Mari
I hope everyone is making the best of it and eating all that slowly melting ice cream from the freezers that are slowly thawing!!!!!
The upside is they still have a fair amount of cold food to eat….ya salads get tired after you eat em for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it is food…..They do have deli meat and lots of fresh fruits and veggies to eat too…..
The report said there has been no refrigeration. It therefore is likely that “cold food” does not mean they are out there eating yummy chef’s salads and deli meats. It will be interesting to hear in due course what they were actually eating.
It would be disheartening to have a cruise canceled–what a huge disappointment–but $*It Happens and it seems like Carnival is taking reasonable steps to compensate. I can truly say that, while I would be disappointed if it happened to me, I believe Carnival’s response is fair. Of course, we all know that there will be folks not happy and I only wish those folks would think a little about how things could have been worse (on any vacation, not just on a cruise) and how lucky they are that Carnival is so responsive. Thanks for the updates–this news has traveled like wildfire amongst my cruising friends and knowing the latest helps somehow.
It’s not like anyone died like 3 weeks ago when we sailed on this ship. Hang in there people, make the best of it. Everyone is safe and healthy and you have memories forever. Carnival took very good care of you.
Seriously, it’s nothing more than a minor disappointment and an inconvenience. Look at the big picture.
Welcome home safe and sound.
Johanna, I agree. A slow boat to China it is not. I’d suggest people take advantage of the moment to slow down their biorhythms and get them in synch with the cosmos, and if they are not named Johanna, do the best they can anyway. ; )
Thank you for the updates, Stephanie! John and all the passengers and crew aboard Splendor will remain in my prayers tonight.
Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew and rescue crew of the Splendor….so relieved everyone is okay!
I am so sorry that this happened and I am sending the best of wishes to everyone involved. Keep your spirits up as much as possible and you all will be home soon. Thank you to Stephanie for the updates and John for the always informative commentary. Thanking God that all are safe and returning home. I cruised on Carnival for my very first time this year and it was wonderful so we KNOW all those involved will get to have that enjoyment in the future good luck and God Bless you all.
Since nobody was hurt and all seem to be safe my mind has wandered to the costs involved. Wow! Wow! Wow! Have no idea but this is going to cost multi-millions. Thats if the Splendor gets back to operating order in 2 weeks. If not the financial damage will grow and grow.
2 Weeks? That would be great,But your looking at 4 to 6 weeks if not a little longer than that! I would like to know why the Coast Gaurd would make the splendors engine mechanic or whoever in charge of starting her engines; start the ships engines up and then have them shut her down,then kick on the back-up generator not even 1 min or so later,Wouldn’t those engines have to be shut down for atleast 5 to 10 min. before kicking the emergency generators on like that? To me that doesn’t sound right..
Godspeed to all passengers and crew… it is a wonderful cruise… I hope you take the chance again and use your vouchers on another great Mexican Riviera Carnival Splendor cruise. My thoughts and prayers are with you all… as I was there 2 wks ago aboard the same ship… same itinerary… awesome time! You have a great crew and cruise director, John, working to provide you all the necessities.
Spam is the main dish tonight in the MDR.
Now that they are thinking on going to San Diego they must have some more items working.
Many will be disappointed, BUT
WHAT A GREAT ADVENTURE!
Helicopters bringing supplies, Coast Guard, Tug Boats and an Aircraft Carrier. Stories they can recall for a lifetime. Hope the casino is doing well.
Tough on the crew, but what a great experience for all, as long as no one was injured.
Well, John, nice that the Coast Guard inspected those generators befoe you sailed.
I don’t think the casino is working if they don’t have power?
I wouldnt have minded too much. As you said what a great adventure especially because Carnival has guaranteed that these people will be able to vacation again in the future. Nothing lost and a great adventure to tell all your friends. Great job handling this Carnival!!!
John – Can you say stress???? We love you, buck up!
I’m with you Tom, what a ride! Bet the Card games are going, but the slots won’t be. The Brits aboard must be ecstatic about their beer at the proper temp.
John – I am so sorry to hear about what has transpired on Spendor. My Dad and I had the pleasure of having you as our CD for Spledor’s inaugural sail in 2008 to the Baltic. We had a great time. Hope I gret the chance to sail with you again someday. Thoughts and prayers go out to you and all aboard for a safe return to port.
Regards……………….Tim Morrison
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for all the updates, all of John’s bloggers crew are worried sick about John. Please, if you talk to him tell him to make sure and eat, take his diabetes medicine, and drink lots of fluids too. I know how stressed he sometimes gets but this is a situation that he has no control over. Right now he needs to take care of himself, before he can take care of the cruisers on board, if he gets sick there will be nobody to fill his shoes. Please tell John that Linda & Mike from Florida are thinking about him, and keeping him in their prayers. God Bless everyone on board.
hey all, sorry to hear about the mechanical difficulties. we just got off of that cruise Sunday and it was a terrific one. John, chin up mate and keep the humor. keep an eye on Stephanie too….she does a great job, jeff the trumpet player ! the Splendor is a beautiful ship and will be up and ripping through the seas again soon !
Thank you for the update! Hang on! You will all be safely on the ground soon, & booking new vacations
Looking forward to my next Cruise with my Groups!!
Carnival is still the BEST Cruise Line…!
Hooray! See ya soon, John!
Hey hang in there and if you know is the cruise that is leaving on the 28th still a go i hope so see ya soon Love Carnival
Thanks for the updates. And another “Best Wishes” to John and the crew.
I was thinking with all this cold / fresh as we can serve it food / and not so much going on; I bet these people will come home slim – from too many salads and walking the stairs!
Hope they make the best of it and have glorious stories to tell the grandkids one day.
On the lighter side, just think of all the stories you can tell for the rest of your lives about this adventure.
Good luck to Carnival with recovering from this quickly.
To John and all the crew members on board,
We sailed on Splendor last July. Had an amazing time. Was very sorry to hear about the recent fire and situations resulting from such but…… enjoy your time on board if possible. Make the best of the bad situation and remember once it is over and you are home safe and sound you can book again for no cost. A bright spot in this hard situation…
Stephanie, thank you so much for updates, all aboard our in our thoughts and prayers. Hang in there John and make sure to take care of yourself.
John, Officers and Crew Hang in there all. John you did say that you wanted an incident free cruise this time round……wow if only you knew……..keep well hang in there and see you in June 2011
John,
What an incredible crew Carnival has, to provide service and entertainment on a ship with no power. You must be very proud of them.
Kudos also to the engineers for getting the plumbing working again. That way, there’ll be no need to turn the aft pool into the poop deck…
We’re looking forward to hearing from you personally again! (No offence, Stephanie)
I hope everyone stays safe until this (mis)adventure has passed.
Hi, So glad I’ve found this blog, my brother Robin Gardner and his girlfriend Jaime TInevez are crew members. It’s really helping us at home to keep track on the latest information. Thinking of you all, Holly x
The ship was on fire?? Well maybe the Mad Professor was right. Or then again maybe it was him setting the ship on fire to prove his point
Our thoughts are with all of you on board. John, take care of yourself and don’t let the stress upset your health! This will be a trip to remember!
Glad everyone is safe! Well John did say he hoped he did not have a week like the one before! I guess if something like this has to happen he is the man I would want as a CD. If anyone can people happy and calm John can!
Thanks for the updates. I can’t imagine how much work John and the crew have to do right now, and I wish for patience and stamina for all involved while the ship gets to SD (which was the latest I heard about arrival). I’m just glad that all are safe.
Shannan
What a tragedy for everyone involved. Imagine the stress on crew and engineers is awful. John you will have enough material to write a book when this is all over. Thankful that the training of crew did not allow the fire to get worse. Our thoughts are with you and your “Mates” Mike & Linda, “also from Florida”
John,
Haapy sailing, we are geatful that everyoune is safe. We sailed on the Slendor on Oct 24th-Nov 1st, and when we were in port we saw the crew practicing for fire in the hall ways. Now we know why it is so important. My kids and wife had a great time. Enjoy the slow trip back, and eat some ICE CREAM for me. Good luck. Oh John, remember how the couple that got stuck in in the jeep in the sand in mexico, and you left a play jeep in their room for when they returned. Bad carma. We will be putting a boat in the toilet for you with no power. Ha Ha. Have a safe return. Chase
We are so very sorry for this unfortunate incident aboard the beautiful C Splendor. You are all in good hands with the Captain, John H and all the crew.
C Splendor is one of our favourite ships which we have sailed on many times.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all and we wish you a safe and speedy trip back to your homes.
May God bless you all and the whole efficient crew aboard the C Splendor.
Stephanie, thank you for the updates. John and all the passengers and crew aboard the Splendor stay in my prayers
Glad to hear that there is progress toward returning home. Carnival’s compensation seems fair and I hope all on board are keeping a positive outlook. Janet
Hey kiddo, amazing that the one ship in the fleet that happens to have a problem has John on it! Just a suggestion, but the SPAM store has a BUNCH of great christmas gift ideas for our favorite CD including a spammie stress buster pig. (gotta see it to believe it)
As a Platinum Carnival fan I sincerely hope NOBODY
is deterred from taking a cruise due to this absolutely freek accident. The crewmen and women of the Reagan want to know if anyone wants to swap ships cabins.
John: You are on our “prayer list” as well as ALL the folks on the SPLENDOR this week. As a passenger who has experienced the HEALD AFFECT of a superior cruise director — I can say that I would rather be stranded with you ( and of course my husband) at sea than any one else I can think of.
Take your meds- be the wonderful leader you are and keep everyone’s spirits UP ! You are the best !!
Thanks for keeping us informed about the details, Stephanie! Thank God no one was injured. Yes its a little uncomfortable to travel this way, but Carnival will always make sure their guests are entertained and fed. It’s an adventure of a lifetime!
I am sorry everyone on the ship has to go through this, but isn’t it wonderful that no one has been hurt or worse. And as usual, Carnival is taking good care of their guests with reimbursement and an additional free cruise. That’s why we are scheduled for our 4th cruise with Carnival at the end of this month, and will still book another for next year. My prayers are with John, all the crew and passengers on the Splendor.
Best wishes to John and the crew also. Please make sure that someone gets the word to John and others onboard who are diabetice to continue on their meds and lots and lots of fluids.
You know we worry about friends when they travel and I hope someone has been able to get word to Heidi and Kye to reassure them that John is OK…
Our prayers and thoughts are with all of you on the Splendor…
Thanks to the Marines out of San Diego for their participation in getting food to the ship. So thankful for our military!
I know that folks on board were probably scared half to death at the start of this incident, but just think of the stories they’ll be able to tell once they get home about “How I survived the Cruise Ship Splendor Disaster”!!! Hopefully they have enough of a sense of humor to make the most of a once in a lifetime experience. Imagine…stuck on a cruise ship with John Heald. Hey, can I volunteer to take someone’s place?
If Carnival needs a “reporter on board” …
fly me out …. I am ready !!!
It sure would beat all this sensational cr@p we are getting from the mainstream media….
Linda (Mom of DJ)
To all the passengers and crew on the Splendor…..we await your safe return! It is so heart-warming reading all these posts from everyone. I too, was on the Splendor two weeks ago. We had a fabulous time!!!! John, we are all worried about you too!!! I do hope you caught the new COMPUTER ACRONYM: “IHJO” that one of your followers wrote. It stands for “I HOPE JOHN’S O.K.” **** CLASSIC ***** . We will miss you when you leave the Splendor.
AS AN EMBARKATION AGENT for CARNIVAL out of Long Beach – I am proud to be one of the many Carnival staff that will be waiting to greet our passengers when they arrive in San Diego tomorrow. They really are all more like family to us now – and we promise to take good care of them!
Carnival,You are the best! Your dedicated,hardworking staff; Deserve a big GREAT JOB! Never sailed on splendor.Was on Glory and Liberty.The Liberty just about 2months ago.I hope to be taking my wife on glory again in Feb. Hope to see john there too.Again GREAT JOB To the whole crew on Splendor and all the Carnival Ships. BE SAFE!
John,
You & all on board the Splendor are my heroes! Been watching & reading the news . Sounds like you’re making the best of things. Make sure you all look good for your welcome home party. The press is all over this story!
San Diego- Be ready!
Joyce
What a great adventure…….i would love to be on that ship right now. It may not be what you planned, but this will be a trip you will never forget. This is the same cruise that we were on a month ago. And on that cruise, one of the crew members went overboard and was officially lost at sea. That was a sad day for all. But still had a great time thanks to the crew and John…..
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=449893266757&id=2303575
I used to work for Carnival and was on board for a small fire, so I can only imagine how things must be now. Just so you know, lots of ex-employees are keeping in touch and updateing eachother daily on Facebook, we are all thinking of you! Have a safe journey to port, and John, please say H to Heidi from her Dutch host friend Katja
John,
Just heard it on the news for the first time. We wish we could be there with you. It wouldn’t matter to us. It would be an adventure. But then, we are not first time cruisers. WeI just hope they know this is not the norm for cruises. We’ve been on 9 with every one being great. We know you have made it as entertaining, informative, and comfortable as possible. We have to commend one young man who spoke to CBS news. He was very calm and spoke highly of you. We love you John! Come home safe!
We sailed on the Carnival Destiny out of Miami on October 18 and arrived back in Miami Oct. 23, 2010..It was our first time on a cruise..and our honeymoon…the staff and crew were fantastic…we were treated like VIP’s from the cabin stewards to our waiter in the dining room…cannot fault the staff and amenities !..but.. on our last nite out on our way back from Nassau…we noticed that the ship was moving very slowly but we all just thought that we were fairly close to Miami and they wanted to make the trip last the nite…but during dinner the captain announced that we were having engine troubles…they had to shut down one engine and so that would make us approx. 5 – 6 hours late getting back into Miami…of course hundreds of people were running for their phones and the internet to change flights etc. for the next day…while we still had all our facilities working…it was upsetting to a lot of people who had to rebook flights etc..so with this happing to the Splendor this week.. and our ship a few weeks back…one has to start questioning their maintenance staff/records?? We are definitely going to cruise again..but will think maybe twice about going on a Carnival ship…