The 'Poop Cruise', explained

USA Today

a day ago

More than a decade after it set sail, one of the most infamous pre-Covid cruises is back in the news thanks to a Netflix documentary.
Trainwreck: Poop Cruise splashed onto the streaming service this week, featuring passenger footage that takes viewers onto the ill-fated 2013 voyage of the Carnival Triumph. If the entire story has slipped your mind, or you weren't aware of it to begin with, have no fear. We're here to catch you up on the admittedly unsavory affair.
No nose plugs required.
So, what's up with the 2013 Carnival Triumph 'Poop Cruise'?
In February 2013, the Carnival Triumph departed Galveston, Texas with 4,229 passengers and crew members headed on a four-day trip to Cozumel, Mexico and back. On Day 3 of the voyage, as the ship made it's way across the Gulf of Mexico and back to Texas, a fire in the engine room saw the vessel lose power without sufficient back-up. The fire didn't injure anyone, but the consequences were felt immediately.
Per AL.com:
Hundreds of miles away in the Gulf of Mexico, what began as a dream voyage to a Mexican paradise had turned into a nightmare. The Carnival Triumph, stranded after an engine fire on February 10, was adrift without power, air conditioning, or functioning toilets. Passengers used blankets to shield themselves from the sun while seeking refuge on the open deck. Food ran scarce as passengers told stories about eating tomato-and-onion sandwiches.
OK, but why was it dubbed the 'Poop Cruise' instead of the 'Fire Cruise'?
There's no delicate way to put this, so we'll just state it plainly.
The malfunctioning toilet and plumbing situation caused sewage to flood areas of the ship and left everyone aboard with only one option to go No. 2: They had to defecate into red biohazard bags.
How long did the 'Poop Cruise' last?
Before you think, "no way am I using a bag, I'll just hold it," consider the ship was dead in the water for four days — three days longer than the trip was scheduled for. The ship initially planned to get towed to port in Mexico, but the current pushed it much further north.
Eventually, making port in Mobile, Alabama became the best option — despite the fact it's terminal hadn't been used by a cruise ship in two years. Multiple tug boats were required to tow the boat back to shore and passengers were finally able to get off.
What happened to the passengers after the cruise?
Most passengers were loaded onto coach busses for transport to New Orleans or Galveston, where Carnival had arranged further accommodations. Then the company got to work on making things right for their guests.
Here's what Carnival formally announced at the time:
All guests on the Feb. 7 Carnival Triumph voyage will receive a full refund of the cruise and transportation expenses, a future cruise credit equal to the amount paid for the voyage, reimbursement of all shipboard purchases made during the voyage, with the exception of casino, gift shop and artwork purchases, and further compensation of $500 per person.
Carnival has also canceled 14 voyages of the Carnival Triumph through April 13, 2013. Guests on the affected sailings will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, as well as non-refundable transportation costs, pre-paid shore excursions, gratuities, and government fees and taxes. Guests will also receive a 25 percent discount on a future three- to five-day Carnival cruise or a 15 percent discount on a six- to seven-day cruise. Travel agent commissions will be protected.
Sadly, this is not where our story ends.
What happened to the Carnival Triumph after the 'Poop Cruise'?
The vessel remained in Mobile, but was transferred from the cruise terminal to a local shipyard for assessment and repairs. This proved incredibly difficult and, ultimateIy tragic.
More, from AL.com:
On April 3, with wind gusts reaching 66 mph, the ship broke its moorings at BAE Systems, where it had been docked for initial repairs.
The nearly 900-foot cruise ship then floated uncontrolled across the river toward Mobile where it slammed into a pier and sent two shipyard workers plunging into the river. One of those workers, John R. 'Buster' Johnson, died from the incident.
The Triumph then floated across the river and into the side of a marine vessel owned by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was being repaired at Signal Ship Repair. The incident left visible damage to the Triumph's right stern.
The trouble didn't end there, because not long after the April 3 incident, a nearby fuel barge explosion forced workers to evacuate the ship. Finally, 82 days after docking in Alabama, the ship sailed to the Bahamas for final repairs so it could be put back into service.
Wait, the Poop Cruise boat is still in service!?
Oh, you bet it is. The ship has since undergone $200 million in renovations and was renamed the Carnival Sunrise in 2019. It now sails out of Miami.