Reeling from a CNN special report indicating that it delayed maintaining the diesel engines and fuel lines in the Triumph and other cruise ships, Carnival was hit last night with an article published by the Associated Press stating that the cruise line knew that the Triumph was a fire trap but it took chances with
Carnival Triumph
CNN Report on Triumph Fire: Carnival Cruise Line Knew of Danger Before Sailing
Anderson Cooper aired a short special last night on his program AC360.
Over and over again, Carnival engineers indicated on their Triumph inspection reports and maintenance records that one of the ship’s diesel generators was way past due for maintenance. The cruise ship was out of compliance with the IMO’s Safety of Life at Sea…
Lawsuit: Couple on Carnival Triumph Endured “Deplorable, Unsafe & Unsanitary Conditions,” But They Weren’t on the Cruise Ship!
It’s hard to develop a reputation worse than Carnival Cruise Lines these days but a lawyer in Houston may have accomplished that feat.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Houston lawyer John Bruster Loyd filed a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines on behalf of a couple in Texas.
He alleged that they had been…
“No Further Information is Available”
This weekend, KHOU news station reports from Galveston, Texas that the Carnival Triumph returned to port Saturday afternoon "after a passenger had a medical emergency."
KHOE didn’t explain the medical emergency but reported that the U.S. Coast Guard said the medical emergency was not life-threatening, "so they did not fly out to the cruise ship." The cruise ship…
Carnival Scores PR Coup During Interview with CBS’s Peter Greenberg
Carnival scored some much needed public relations points during an interview with CBS News’ travel expert Peter Greenberg. Following several high-profile mishaps (the Costa Concordia disaster and the Carnival Triumph "poop cruise"), the cruise giant is reportedly spending more than half-a-billion dollars for improvements on its fleet of cruise ships.
Of particular interest during…
New Lawsuits Filed Against Carnival for Triumph “Poop Cruise”
Yesterday we mentioned that the first case filed in Galveston by a passenger following the infamous Triumph "poop cruise" was voluntarily dismissed. But today there is news that additional lawsuits were just filed in southeast Texas for damages alleged by passengers who sailed aboard the ill-fated Carnival cruise.
The Southeast Texas Record reports that…
Triumph Poop Cruise Lawsuit Abandoned
A legal journal in Texas is reporting that the first and only lawsuit filed in Galveston County regarding the disabled Carnival Triumph cruise ship has ended with a voluntary dismissal.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Kathy Marie Armstrong who was among the 3,000 or so passengers who sailed from Galveston on February 7 2013.
Carnival Triumph Breaks Mooring in Mobile
Multiple news outlets are reporting that the infamous Carnival Triumph cruise ship has broken loose from its lines at a port facility in Mobile Alabama where it has been moored since February 14th and drifted from the dock.
The cruise ship sustained some damage, with one news outlet reporting that the ship sustained a hole on…
Lawsuits Arising Out of Triumph Fire Continue to be Filed Against Carnival Cruise Line
Lawsuits continue to be filed against Carnival arising out of the fire-disabled Triumph cruise ship.
Passengers were subjected to disgusting conditions due to overflowing toilets and a lack of air-conditioning. We made a decision not to be involved in any lawsuits against Carnival in this case. Yes, many people were inconvenienced but most sustained no…
Where Are Photos of the Triumph Engine Room Fire?
Cruise lines do a great job keeping photographs and video of cruise ship fires away from the public.
Has anyone seen photos of the engine room of the Triumph, which is just the latest cruise ship to become disabled? Or the engine room of the Carnival Splendor? The Costa Allegra? Royal Caribbean’s…
Cruise Ship Fires & Missing Children: Will the Bahamas Ever Release Reports?
The fire on the Carnival Triumph cruise ship is being investigated by the Bahamas because Carnival elected to register the Triumph in that country to avoid U.S. taxes, labor and safety laws. As the "flag state" for the Triumph, the Bahamas is charged with the responsibility of investigating fires, casualties and crimes on that…
Carnival Triumph Lawsuits – A Just Cause or a Money Grab?
On February 10th the Carnival Triumph’s engine room caught fire fire and was quickly extinguished. No one was burned. No one choked and gasped for air. No one died. No family members mourned the loss of their loved ones or buried their dead.
Three weeks later there is a litigation frenzy with lawyers from New…
Triumph Fire: Here Comes the Lawsuits! (Part 2): Miami Firm Files Class Action Lawsuit
Go big or stay home, so the saying goes.
This weekend there have been several articles discussing the two lawsuits filed last Friday against Carnival arising out of the Carnival Triumph "cruise from hell." I have thrown in my two cents in television & radio appearances and in a number of local and…
Sex Attack Alleged On Carnival Cruise Ship
Just when you think that things could not get any worse for Carnival, news is just breaking that authorities are investigating what is being characterized as a "sex attack" on a Carnival cruise ship.
A newspaper in the Bahamas is reporting that a team of of detectives from Nassau to Galveston, Texas yesterday to investigate…
Carnival Triumph Cruise From Hell: Here Come the Lawsuits!
Last Friday, the day the Carnival Triumph passengers were finally going home from the "cruise from hell," the first two lawsuits were filed.
The first case mentioned in the press was filed by a Texas lawyer representing a woman from Brazoria County Texas. I printed a copy from the court’s online docket to read this…
Troubled Waters: The Carnival Triumph
Last night ABC News aired a one hour special on 20/20 following the Triumph cruise ship fire.
In the video below, you will hear from passengers on the "cruise from hell" talk about their experiences, and see the Carnival marketing and PR people run away from ABC’s cameras.
I answered a few questions, and explained…
Carnival Triumph Passengers Happy to Be Home
The long tortuous tow back to Mobile ended last night with smiles of relief on the faces of the over-3,000-passengers as they straggled off the stinking stricken Triumph. It was a happy sight to me. Yes, there were people still upset, understandably so, but the sentiment seems to be that they had all encountered a…
CNN Opinion: What Cruise Lines Don’t Want You to Know
Today CNN asked me to write an opinion piece regarding the state of affairs of the cruise industry following the fire aboard the Carnival Triumph. CNN permits only the first 150 words of the article to be published so here you go:
Editor’s note: James M. Walker is a maritime lawyer and cruise safety…