Carnival Splendor should be renamed Carnival Miracle!

Carnival Splendor during her sea trials in 2008.
Photo is courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line.

Carnival Splendor caught fire at about 6am PST on Monday November 08, 2010 in one of the aft engine rooms. All of the passengers were awakened and instructed to go to the lido deck and higher for safety. At about 9am PST, the fire was extinguished, but the ship was disabled. The crew was hoping to restore power and have the ship turn back to Long Beach, CA. After many efforts and attempts, this plan was not a success and the 4,500 passengers and crew were stranded at sea. The passengers and crew had no hot water, lights, toilet services, and a limited food supply. Later, the ship was able to have limited toilet service and emergency lights came on the ship. The ship was about 150 miles off the coast of San Diego when the fire occurred. On Tuesday November 09, 2010, the US Navy stepped in by supplying food and supplies. Over 70,000 pounds of food was delivered to Carnival Splendor via USS Ronald Regan aircraft carrier and helicopters.

Also, on Tuesday the tugboats reached the vessel and began towing the ship. The original the plan was to tow the ship to Ensenada, Mexico, but because of some border fears, the ship was towed into the Port of San Diego, California. If there were not favorable sea conditions, or if the ship moved too slowly, then the ship would have been towed into Ensenada, Mexico. Carnival Splendor crew planned scavenger hunts for the kids on board, and the passengers entertained themselves by playing cards and singing songs. Carnival even gave away some alcohol on the ship, one guest claimed, "People were getting smashed off of warm beer!"

Those that had balcony cabins at least got to have some fresh air from the ocean. Everyone else was pretty much miserable because it was so hot on the interior of the ship. Many passengers praised Carnival and the US Navy for the way they handled the situation. All passengers received a complete refund and a future free cruise. They also had flight and hotel arrangements made for them once they disembarked the ship, in San Diego, CA. The conditions on-board were very trying, as you could imagine, and many passengers claimed that the line for food was hours long! The ship arrived into the Port of San Diego Thursday November 11, 2010 at about 8:30am PST. All passengers were disembarked by 3:30pm PST.

The ship is being dry docked and repaired. Don't let this incident stop you from cruising, stuff happens (it could have happened to any vessel on any cruise line, in essence)--the outcome of this accident is a true miracle! It could have been a whole lot worse on so many levels, but praise the Lord everyone is safe. Cruising, in my opinion, is still the best way to travel and vacation. Get out on the high seas, and enjoy all that today's innovative vessels have to offer! Your ship awaits, and Carnival Splendor just might be it--Bon Voyage!