In 1997, we were at the Indy Home Show at the fair grounds. We were looking for ideas for the new home we were planning on buying. One of the exhibitors was giving away a free cruise on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Canaveral Cruises. Well, we entered and we were called some weeks later (and landed on the cruise from hell) .
No, we did not win, but they would give us a deal on the cruise. All we had to do was listen to their timeshare speil ON the Bahamas Island and the cruise would be free. Add to that they offered to extend it from a three day cruise to a four day cruise for just $129 for the both of us. We would be going to Freeport, Nassau, Key West and a fun day at sea. Of course, we were responsible for getting to the port.
Having just done the cruise for the honeymoon a few years back, this sounded like fun. We jumped on it. Of course, we did this without researching first. Our bad.
So we thought we knew what to expect. We drove down the causeway to the ports. We saw Carnival’s ship and Disney’s big red boat. In the dock between, we see a tug boat. Okay, it was slightly larger, 5 decks, maybe. It was called the Dolphin and it was dwarfed by the cruise ships (that by today’s standards were small).
Oh well, it will be cozy or intimate. We get to our cabin and it is small, housing only twin beds. Okay, we can cope with that. Our luggage arrived and the room got even tighter.
Finally, we set sail. It was not bad sailing until an hour in when one of the two ships boilers broke down. It started spewing black soot all over. We were touring the ship and found the nightclub. It was closed and not because of the early hour, but because the pool, located on the deck above, was leaking into it.
A ship this small also has no stabilizers and as we hit open seas, the seas turned a bit rough with swells reaching 8-12 feet. Not a problem for a large cruise ship, but with a smaller ship with just one engine, it was tough going.
We went to the dining room that night, By this time, we were not expecting 5 star cuisine, but hopefully they would be able to serve us something good (and vegetarian for Teresa). We were lead to our table which seated eight. We don’t mind sharing and socializing some, especially over a meal. As we approached the table, I did a quick count, there were 7 people already seated there. This was going to be cozy. They brought in another chair and service. After being seated and presented with menu’s, we found little for Teresa. We were discussing that when one of the head waiters brought over two more who were assigned to our table. A table for 8 now had 11 people at it and the waiter did not even offer an apology. Did I mentioned the ship was being tossed? Teresa was not feeling well and excused herself after having little choice of dinner.
The shore excursions were not too bad as we free-styled them. We enjoyed the islands, but dreaded getting back on the boat (we now refuse to call it a ship). It broke down 5 times between Port Canaveral and Key West. They never got the second boiler working. Did I mention that the ships power supply was distributed between the two boilers, so half the ship was without power and without AC. Many people took to the decks to sleep as their rooms were too hot. At one point, someone was actually airlifted from the ship and many people had wished they were that person.
Teresa was sick most of the trip. After Key West, she and I were on deck as the seas had calmed. As we came around the southern tip, the captain must have wanted to keep the shore in sight to reassure the passengers (or captives, we were not sure which we were).
As we got into the naval waters, two US warships came out to great us. We were escorted around the waters with sailors on the decks of their ships, each brandishing or carrying their weapons.
About mid-day after the naval ships had bis us adieu, a large plume of black smoke was ejected from the stack and the ship stopped. Had we lost the other boiler? Had we been taxing it that badly? We moved towards the front of the ship, through the hall which were still lined with sea sick bags hanging from banisters and rails.
As we get to the deck, we notice the deck seems off. The deck, no, the ship is listing around 8-12 degrees. We hear that we are just off West Palm Beach. Teresa looked at me and asked if we should go down and get at least our documents. This was just as a crew-man, who had donned a life vest passed us and assured us everything was okay.
Soon, we hear that we will be getting back underway. Many of the passengers want off, want to go into Palm Beach and get transportation back from there. The word is that West Palm Beach would not send help out and would not let us dock since we still held some amount of power. I spoke a few choice words, hearing that.
We are told it would take us the better part of the day and into the morning before we would make the home port. And to top it off, we were told we had to go further out to sea. As the swells were rough, Teresa went back to our cabin to lie down. After an hour or so, I went to dinner, alone again.
Now this boat did have a theater with a show and like other cruise lines, it was supposed to be early seating ate while the late seating saw the show and then early seating would see the show while late seating ate. We were early seating and this last dinner, only 4-5 five showed up, so I had some elbow room. After dinner, I decided I would check out the entertainment. I was not expecting much.
I sat near the back of a round stage and waited. Shortly, the lights dimmed and a spot came up and out came “cruise director Paul”. He was British, with a thick accent we had heard many times over whatever half the intercom was working at the time. This time, no one had trouble hearing him with the microphone in hand.
He introduced himself (again) and thanked us for our patience in these trying times. He explained that one of the ship’s boiler was down and needed a part they did not have. He said it was kinda like motoring down the motorway and getting a flat. He said, “you know, you stop, get out the spare and fix it and move on. But what happens when as you are driving along and another tire goes flat? What do you do? You have no spare, so you hobble down the road on the rim.”
I didn’t know if it was the headache from the boat shifting so much, the food which was not sitting well, or what, but I stood up. I stood tall, and in my best British accent (Note: I have a bad habit of mimicking accents when I hear them if I am not careful), so again in my best British accent, I spoke up. I said, “Well Cruise Director Paul, you are right in that if my car would have had a flat, I would have fixed it and been on my way. However, if another tire blew and after a while another and another, I would have called for a bloody TOW truck!” The room fell silent and after a moment, one person started clapping, then another… then the room exploded in applause. I left shortly after, I needed to lay down.
Early in the morning, Teresa and I woke up to a stillness. No rocking and the engines were silent. Our luggage was packed and ready to go. We decided to go up near the port entry. It was 4 am and no one was on the dock. We sat down at the top of the stairs. Within moments, Paul and the captain were escorted into the “library” room by members of the coast guard. While voices were hushed, they did not bother to shut the door and they carried enough for me to hear that the coast guard officer told the captain and cruise director, “For your safety, we will escort you off the ship before the passengers are up and about and disembarking.” I don’t recall, but I think I snickered at that. I don’t think they knew we were sitting right there.
The story of the lame ship hit the news and morning news crews were there as the passengers departed. Many were vocal enough, though some said they did not mind another day at sea with free booze and bingo.
I wrote to the president of the company and relayed much of what I shared above. I learned that many others had as well. I was not expecting anything. Then one day, months later, I get a check from a credit card company. I was surprised to get any check as I had closed that account months earlier before we closed on our new house. I called the the credit card company to question it as there was nothing on the check to tell me what it was from. When they told me it was a refund from C Cruise lines, I was shocked.
So, what did we learn from this? Research your trips and nothing is truly free, unless it is horrible and then you MIGHT get part of it back. Lesson learned!
Oh and if you are wondering if the ship is STILL operating? It is. Not under the same company, I am told, but here are the specs.
Operator: Canaveral Cruise Lines
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1956 / 1990
Length / Tonnage: 501 / 13,007
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 293 / 558 (max 692)
Officers / Crew: Greek / International
Operating Area: Year-round Caribbean from Port Canaveral to Freeport, Bahamas every third day. Cruises are typically sold as part of a land package that also includes three days in Orlando theme parks and two days at the beach.
