One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Stranded Carnival Cruise Passengers Headed to Shore, Eating Spam & Pop Tarts
The Carnival Splendor cruise ship once headed to Puerto Vallarta from Long Beach for a seven-day luxury cruise that suffered an engine fire that knocked out power and stranded guests 200 miles off the coast of San Diego is now being tugged ever-so-slowly to shore. The 4,500 passengers and crew have experienced a different kind of luxury than they signed up for: no air conditioning, no hot water, no cell service, no internet connection, no fancy buffets. Instead they've had to settle for once-not-but-now-working toilets, cold water, Spam and Pop Tarts.
The ship ran out of supplies on Tuesday and received much-needed support from U.S. Navy Sea Hawk helicopters that brought in Spam, crab meat, croissants, Pop Tarts and other supplies from the USS Ronald Reagan that was in the area for training maneuvers and changed-up their route to help out.
No one has been hurt during the ordeal and passengers - many on their first-ever cruise - are eagerly awaiting their arrival in San Diego to re-connect with family, board flights home and put this particular brand of luxury behind them.
Carnival Cruises won't be able to forget as easily. Carnival will refund passenger expenses for the failed cruise in addition to offering vouchers of equal value for future cruises. Carnival has canceled the Nov. 14 seven-day cruise from Long Beach and will offer those passengers a full refund along with a 25 percent discount on a future cruise. They may also have to take the Splendor out of commission for future trips if the fire damage is too extensive.
The 4,500 passengers and crew are expected to arrive in San Diego on Thursday night.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
