Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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Carnival cruise mishap not costing local company
Posted: 02.15.2013 at 5:55 PM
Zoheb Hassanali

Zoheb joined the WACH Fox newsroom in January 2012 from our Barrington sister station KTVO in Kirksville Missouri.

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After five days stranded at sea, passengers on the Carnival cruise ship Triumph were finally back on dry land; tired and frustrated.  / MGN
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COLUMBIA (WACH) -- After five days stranded at sea, passengers on the Carnival cruise ship Triumph were finally back on dry land; tired and frustrated.

Despite the cruise mishap, at Classic Travel in Columbia, Manager Debra Morris said the past week has been business as usual.

"Most of our cruisers are repeat cruisers," Morris said. "They are not going to give up their vacations. I do not think this is something that really frightens people that have cruised because everyone understands that things happen."

Morris said ships, like cars and planes, are not immune to malfunctions. Carnival requires passengers to read and sign a seven page contract that clears the company against any lawsuits. However, the company is giving passengers a full refund, a voucher for a future cruise, and free travel arrangements to get back home.

But Morris said more could have been done sooner.

"A couple of years ago when we had Celebrity that came into Charleston and the flu was on there, Celebrity did so much in advance, that no one was upset with them," Morris said. "But I think Carnival can take a lesson about being a little more upfront."

As for what future cruisers can do to prepare just in case? Morris said not a whole lot. More items means less fun on a ship.

"A flashlight is probably not a bad idea and does not take up too much space," Morris said. "But other then that, you would have to prepare for any sort of incident, that you would probably be paying for extra luggage."

An extra fee travelers may or may not think is worth paying in the future.

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