Engine Room Fire Cripples Carnival Triumph Off Mexico's Yucatan

caribbean islandOn Sunday morning, Carnival Triumph experienced an engine room fire while the vessel was sailing approximately 150 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The line reports that the ship’s automatic fire extinguishing systems activated and the fire was contained to the aft engine room.

In a line statement Sunday evening, Carnival said the fire was fully extinguished and that there were no casualties or injuries to any of the 3,143 guests and 1,086 crew members onboard.

Carnival also said it had notified all appropriate authorities including the U.S. Coast Guard. A U.S. Coast Guard cutter is presently on site next to the Carnival Triumph and in communication with the ship.

Unfortunately, Carnival Triumph is without propulsion and the ship is operating on emergency generator power. Carnival said Monday morning that a team of additional technical crew and guest services personnel is en route to the vessel and is expected to arrive via boat later Monday.

However, the ship's technical crew onboard already has determined the vessel will need to be towed to port. So two tugboats are en route to the ship's location. They will tow the cruise ship to Progreso, Mexico, the closest port to the ship’s current location.

The ship is expected to arrive in Progreso late Wednesday. Carnival said in a Monday morning statement that "guests will be flown from Mexico back to the U.S. on chartered aircraft which the company is currently working to arrange."

The current Carnival Triumph voyage departed Galveston, TX on Thursday, Feb. 7 and was scheduled to return today. 

Carnival said the ship has maintained emergency generator power since the fire occurred and the technical team on board has been successful in gradually restoring auxiliary power to operate some basic hotel functions.

"Currently, public and cabin toilets are operational in certain sections of the ship, power has been restored to a limited number of elevators, and some power in the Lido dining area is providing for hot coffee and limited hot food service," said the line's Monday morning statement.

In addition, Carnival said guests have been supplied with food and refreshments throughout yesterday and this morning and the ship has supplies on board to last until the vessel returns to port.

Yesterday afternoon, the Carnival Elation rendezvoused with Carnival Triumph and supplied dinners for the guests on the stricken ship, along with additional provisions. Early this afternoon, Carnival Legend will be on site to do the same, the line said.

Carnival said it has contacted the designated emergency contacts for all guests presently onboard Carnival Triumph. Concerned family and loved ones of guests and crew may call 888-290-5095 or 305-406-5534.

All guests on the current Carnival Triumph voyage will receive a full refund of the cruise, along with transportation expenses.

In addition, they will receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount paid for this voyage, as well as reimbursement of all shipboard purchases during the voyage, with the exception of gift shop and casino charges.

The next two voyages of Carnival Triumph, scheduled to depart today, Feb. 11, and next Saturday, Feb. 16 have been cancelled.

Guests scheduled to sail on either of those voyages will receive a full refund, reimbursement for non-refundable travel expenses and a 25 percent discount on a future three to five-day cruise.

Carnival said it's "in contact with impacted guests to advise them of the situation."

Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for the latest updates to this developing story.