Mayhem broke out aboard a Carnival cruise when enraged vacationers were told they wouldn’t be voyaging to the expected Caribbean getaway because of an engine problem — while they shouted for their money back and pleaded to get off the ship.
Guests aboard Carnival’s Vista had booked the 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise out of Port Canaveral, Florida on Aug. 10 intending to stop in Aruba, Curacao and Turks and Cacaos.
As the boarding process was ongoing and some passengers were already on board, the cruise line sent a notification detailing the change in plans.
Carnival crew members had discovered a “technical issue affecting the ship’s cruising speed” which forced the cruise line to alter the itinerary, the cruise line told The Post.
The Vista would instead travel to the Bahamas, making stops at Nassau, Princess Cays, Freeport, and Half Moon Cay, according to Inside Edition.
Some passengers were not thrilled with the last-minute change and began chanting for refunds as cruise staff attempted to explain the situation.
“Give us our money,” several guests aboard the ship shouted, according to Instagram user Only In Florida on Aug. 28.
One man claimed he spent $6,000 just to get on the cruise.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the way you’re going about this with the noise and chaos isn’t going to solve any issues,” one cruise employee explained to the passengers, according to video obtained by Inside Edition.
An 8-day cruise aboard the Vista averages $779 per person.
The passengers were given several choices once the cruise line determined the need for an itinerary change.
“We communicated directly with guests on board regarding their options for the sailing,” Carnival said.
“Those that sailed were given an onboard credit as well as a future cruise credit toward another cruise to make up for the unexpected change, and those who preferred not to sail were offered a 100 percent refund.”
Even with the choice of not cruising to the Bahamas, passengers were still frustrated with Carnival for the last-minute announcement.
“They knew about the problem prior to us getting onto the ship,” Ashley Ball told the outlet. “They just didn’t say that until we were already on the ship, and, you know, went through customs and the lines and securities and all that, and then decided to display that information.”
The Vista which has since been on several voyages since the Aug. 10 departure has reportedly had its Sept. 7 departure from Port Canaveral canceled, Inside Edition reported.
In June, a Brooklyn family was left watching their cruise sail off as they stood on the docks of Port Canaveral because of a delayed flight out of John F. Kennedy Airport.
Tisha LaSaine says she had been working hard at her post office job to save up the $8,500 needed to take her mother, twins and oldest son on an eight-day cruise on June 30.
The trip was meant to serve as a celebration for LaSaine’s 50th birthday and for her son who would be starting his junior year in college, but after a “crew issue” caused their Delta flight to be delayed for nearly two hours, they missed boarding their cruise.
