So you’ve planned that long awaited cruise vacation down to the last detail. You’ve talked to travel agents, shopped around for your best deal, researched cruise lines and destinations on the internet, figured out your arrival dates, booked your flights, arranged your transfers to the port, and even finagled early boarding on your ship of choice. Now all you want to do is put on your favorite swim suit and pair of flip-flops, grab a drink, and kick back by the pool. Whew! We made it on board! Let the vacation begin!
A Bad Turn Of Luck
Unfortunately, things didn’t go all that well for a group of passengers who boarded the Carnival Vista in Port Canaveral on August 10th. The happy vacationers were looking forward to eight days of bliss during what they thought would be the perfect Southern Caribbean itinerary. Unfortunately, their dream vacation evaporated in an instant.
Passengers say that it wasn’t until they were already on board the ship that they were given the bad news…. their “dream vacation” sailing to Aruba and Curacao wouldn’t be be quite the cruise they hoped. Blaming engine problems that limited the ship’s top speed, the cruise had been rerouted. Rather than sailing to the southernmost islands in the Caribbean, which are arguably among the best Caribbean destinations, passengers were going to visit the exotic ports of Nassau, Princess Cays, Freeport and Half Moon Cay in the nearby Bahamas instead.
Now if you’ve ever been to these ports, you likely rate them as “just okay”. Their proximity to the Florida Peninsula makes them ideal for a quick three day “getaway” cruise, but they sure aren’t the places you’d want to spend eight days. But make no mistake, they are a far cry from experiencing the colorful Dutch architecture and crystalline beaches of Aruba and Curacao. The two places aren’t even in the same class of destination in the opinion of many seasoned travellers.
Carnival’s Offer Just Wasn’t That Good
Needless to say, Carnival found itself with a boatload of mighty unhappy guests, and they really didn’t do themselves any favors by offering rather “paltry” compensation of either a fare refund if you wanted to get off, or a $400 voucher to spend on board if you wanted to go on the trip anyway. After all, many families had spent far more than the fare just getting to Florida, and $400 ($50 per day) doesn’t really go that far on the ship.
According to a report by news magazine Inside Edition, Ashley Ball was on the cruise ship with her mother and sister.
“They knew about the problem prior to us getting onto the ship,” Ashley tells Inside Edition. “They just didn’t say that until we were already on the ship, and, you know, went through customs and the lines and securities and all that, and then decided to display that information.”
You can see exclusive video from the cruise and watch the Inside Edition story here.
So what if you find yourself in this situation? What would you do? According to at least one lawyer who admittedly “Sues cruise lines for a living”, you may not have a lot of recourse.
Following the rather angry response from Carnival customers to the itinerary change, Carnival canceled the cruise scheduled for the following week. The Vista’s itinerary currently shows the Bahamas region cruises available as early as this month, but no more Southern Caribbean cruises are scheduled until next year.
The Vista Has Had A Rough Run
As ships go, she’s not that old. The Carnival Vista launched in May 2016, and is the 25th vessel in the Carnival Cruise Lines’ fleet. The Vista’s time in service hasn’t been smooth sailing though, as she has faced multiple technical challenges over the past five years, predominantly related to the propulsion system. These issues have led to various cruise cancellations and itinerary modifications, frustrating passengers and impacting the ship’s operations.
One of the most significant problems occurred in 2019 when the ship was removed from service for several weeks due to propulsion issues. The vessel’s reduced cruising speed forced Carnival to modify itineraries and cancel multiple sailings to allow for repairs. The problem affected the ship’s azipod propulsion units, critical for maneuvering and speed.
These ongoing technical challenges have cast a shadow on the Carnival Vista, as the ship has struggled to operate at full capacity and maintain its planned itineraries. Despite the repeated efforts to address these issues, the ship’s reputation has been affected, with some guests growing wary of booking cruises on the vessel due to its history of mechanical failures.
Think About Alternatives
If you’re coming to Florida for a cruise, to see a rocket launch, or just about any other scheduled event, our best advice is to stay flexible. Changes and cancellations like the one on the Vista actually happen all the time, so you might want to prepare for your trip with some alternative activities in the region in case of delays or cancellations.
