The Ship of Stools. The Crud Boat. Call it what you will, the
Carnival Triumph was pulled into Mobile, AL after days drifting in the Gulf of Mexico without power, sanitary services, or much food. A fire in the propulsion area of the ship days ago caused a massive power outage on the ship, with some 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew left to deal with dark rooms, rotting food, and non-working toilets. Passengers had to relieve themselves in plastic bags, which were then collected and put in larger bags for disposal. While the passengers had praise for the crew, many were heard talking about a class action lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines.
The cruise line is flagged in the Bahamas, which means the Bahamian government has primary jurisdiction for investigating the incident. No doubt, they'll receive assistance from U.S. maritime authorities and the Coast Guard. It's also worth noting that the cruise line
pays no U.S. taxes, so there's the question of how the Treasury will be reimbursed for assistance rendered by the Coast Guard, and public port facilities.
(photo: The good ship Lolly Plop)
