On the heels of power and propulsion difficulties facing Carnival Cruise Line cruise ships Triumph, Dream, Legend and Elation, it is now being reported that another cruise ship operated by a Carnival Corporation brand, P&O Cruises, is suffering propulsion problems.
Passengers are reporting that the P&O Ventura has broken down several times over the past three days and is having major problems with one of its two propulsion units. The situation sounds similar to the problems which the Carnival Legend as it limps back from a Caribbean cruise to Tampa with only one of its propulsion system working. (Its has been pointed out to us that the Legend has two Azipod systems, whereas the Ventura has conventional diesel engines).
I first heard of the Ventura’s problems in an article by U.K. cruise blogger John Honeywell (Captain Greybeard) who writes:
"P&O’s Ventura continues to make its way across the Atlantic at reduced speed thanks to a fault with the power to its starboard propeller, is expected to reach Southampton on schedule next Saturday, after missing a visit to Madeira scheduled for Tuesday.."
Several people are leaving comments on the popular Cruise Critic forum:
The Ventura is ". . . broken down and just drifting!"
". . . they are now moving again but have been given no explanation."
P&O commented ". . . We are currently working with the manufacturers and shore support to identify and rectify an issue with the starboard propulsion motor on Ventura. We can assure everyone that power and services on the ship are unaffected."
" . . . looks like still having problems, the person on board has now said that as they were floating around so long and now cant seem to get over 18kts they now cant go to Madeira but will be diverting to Ponta delgada."
The media is in a frenzy reporting on all of Carnival’s problems. But, so far, no one is reporting on the problems facing Carnival Corporation’s P&O Ventura.
Carnival Corporation is the world’s largest cruise owner and operator in the world. It operates: Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn in North America; P&O Cruises (UK), and Cunard in the United Kingdom; AIDA Cruises in Germany; Costa Cruises in Southern Europe; Iberocruceros in Spain; and P&O Cruises (Australia) in Australia.
The Ventura was built in Italy and is owned by Carnival Corporation. It is flagged in Bermuda and was launched in 2007.
Photo credit: Telegraph