main electrical transformers malfunctioning on carnival pride

[MEOWSMURPHY]

Our first trip to the Panama Canal was to be on the Miracle..A couple of weeks before we sailed one of the azipods went down. We received a call from Carnival telling us of the situation and that since they couldn't go as fast as they needed to to get to the Panama Canal and back we would be doing a Western itinerary instead..Disappointed yes, cancel the cruise..heck no. Carnival offered a full cancellation since the itinearay was totally different or we could switch ships or we could stay put...given hotels and airfare had been paid for we opted to stay put..it was a great cruise and we had a lot of fun and never felt like the ship was "chugging" along..made the best of it and I'm glad we did..

[cruiseguy83]

A $50 OBC and a 25% discount on a future cruise - not bad. Heck I would pay Carnival $50 and pay a 25% premium on a future cruise just to get them to skip Freeport!:eek::D

 

:D haha! Me too!!

 

Everything should be fine with the cruise. I'd like to think Carnival is taking things very serious after past issues, and wouldn't sail unless they are confident of the ships maintenance.

 

Although, I know, "never say never".

Edited April 4, 2014 by cruiseguy83

[asalligo]

I was on the Pride a month ago, she is my new favorite ship. I would have gladly traded Freeport for 25% off a future cruise. You only get a half day there anyway.

 

I have never worried about the cruise breaking down, I am happy to float an extra few days in the Atlantic. Very Happy!

[ashley@cruisecritic]

Hi guys,

 

Here's the official statement from Carnival's PR department. Looks like it's a transformer issue after all, and the compensation will differ based on which sailing you've booked. You also have the option to cancel for a full refund.

 

CARNIVAL PRIDE STATEMENT

April 4, 2014

Carnival Pride has experienced a technical issue that is only impacting the ship’s maximum cruising speed. All safety and hotel systems are operating normally. One of the ship’s four main electrical transformers has malfunctioned and has resulted in the reduction of the maximum cruising speed to about 19 knots versus the ship’s normal maximum speed of 21 knots. Our shipboard technical team, along with specialized technicians, are currently working on the repair which is expected to be fully completed by April 19, 2014.

For the current cruise that departed Baltimore on March 30, 2014, the scheduled calls in Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay were provided, but the call in Freeport will be cancelled. Guests on this cruise will receive a $50 per person onboard credit and a 25 percent discount on a future cruise.

For the cruise departing from Baltimore on April 6, 2014, the scheduled call in Freeport will be replaced with a visit to Charleston. The calls in Port Canaveral and Nassau will operate as scheduled. Guests on this cruise will receive a 25 percent discount on a future cruise. Guests will also have the opportunity to cancel the cruise and receive a full refund if desired.

For the cruise departing from Baltimore on April 13, 2014, the scheduled call in Freeport will be cancelled. The calls in Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay will operate as scheduled. Guests on this cruise will receive a $50 per person onboard credit and a 25 percent discount on a future cruise. Guests will also have the opportunity to cancel the cruise and receive a full refund if desired.

Carnival sincerely apologizes to its guests for the necessary itinerary changes on these three cruises.

Carnival Pride operates seven-day cruises from Baltimore, calling at ports throughout the Bahamas, Caribbean and Florida.

[PaulMedik]

For the cruise departing from Baltimore on April 13, 2014, the scheduled call in Freeport will be cancelled. The calls in Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay will operate as scheduled. Guests on this cruise will receive a $50 per person onboard credit and a 25 percent discount on a future cruise. Guests will also have the opportunity to cancel the cruise and receive a full refund if desired

 

 

Ashley,

 

Thank you for posting the info.

 

We'll get another $200 OBC (Since there's four of us) and 25% off our next cruise.....I foresee a Captain's Suite booking in our future. :D

[grumpyjr88]

Ashley,

 

Thank you for posting the info.

 

We'll get another $200 OBC (Since there's four of us) and 25% off our next cruise.....I foresee a Captain's Suite booking in our future. :D

 

Sweet!

 

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Forums mobile app

[jimbo5544]

Ashley,

 

 

 

Thank you for posting the info.

 

 

 

We'll get another $200 OBC (Since there's four of us) and 25% off our next cruise.....I foresee a Captain's Suite booking in our future. :D

 

 

You are def the king of OBC.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[cbreit]

We got off the Pride last Sunday, 3/30, and have to say it was one of the rockiest cruises we've ever been on. No explanation either of why the electricity went out for almost two hours on our first cruise morning.

[PaulMedik]

You are def the king of OBC.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

 

Jim,

 

I have to be; just went thru my building today and tossed out a bunch of old stuff. Found several of our old S&S bills; suffices to say I HAVE to start out with a lot because after all of the pictures......:p

 

 

 

We got off the Pride last Sunday, 3/30, and have to say it was one of the rockiest cruises we've ever been on. No explanation either of why the electricity went out for almost two hours on our first cruise morning.

 

 

 

cbreit,

 

Electricity goes out from time to time. We've encountered it at least half a dozen times on different ships. Went out on Liberty when she was in her maiden season and we never gave it a second thought. Just drifted along peacefully for a while then it came back on.

 

Sometimes they don't know 'why,' they just fix it and it comes back on. Why doesn't matter as much as when.....during the evening is worse. :p

[ferfoodle]

"azipod" I have several of those, the shirt with the little alligator on it right?

 

Can't see how that has anything to do with how fast the ship can go:confused:

 

Great - now I am having "preppy" flashbacks from the early 80's. I foresee that fashion recycling soon. :eek:

 

Hope they get the issued fixed soon for everyone's sake.

[skipsmith]

Even Captain Kirk lost power on the USS Enterprise from time to time... No big deal.

 

Lieutenant, One Quarter Impulse Power...

 

Skip

[megann831]

we're on the Pride leaving 4/20, I called and they don't expect to have any changes to our itinerary. I'm hoping for a smooth sailing and being off the ship at every port. Its our 1st cruise with kids (2 and 4) so I'm a little nervous to begin with.

[joeyancho]

We are sailing Pride on Sunday and we got an email saying due to main electrical transformers malfunctioning on pride carnival we would only be cruising 19 knots and therefore they are canceling one of our ports. Should we be concerned we will break down?

 

Don't be silly Carnival ships never break down. Just pack a few cans of Spam and you will be fine.

[PaulMedik]

Don't be silly Carnival ships never break down. Just pack a few cans of Spam and you will be fine.

 

Joeyancho,

 

Packing spam would be a waste of space; in the event Spam is needed Carnival will have it flown in. :)

[Sebship]

I was on the same cruise with asalligo and the entire ship lost all electricity for almost 2 hours. I have never seen that before: no electricity anywhere on the ship. And, we certainly did not "drift along peacefully," as we were actually moving backwards and the waves were rocking the ship. We also had no electricity Tuesday morning, about 3:30am, although there was discussion on the ship that maybe they had cut the electricity to provide a better fix for whatever problem had caused the outage in the first place.

 

I can also say that we were moving at almost 24 knots coming back and that ship was rocking. They lost a few trays of coffee cups that slide off the buffet as well as some food in the back: the sounds were not pretty. Not sure if they don't think they should be pushing the ship that hard moving from Freeport back to Baltimore, which is why they are canceling or changing that port. But, it was definitely an interesting cruise!

 

Sebship

[TanIslandGirl]

$50. OBC pp and 25% off a future cruise, wow, that is very generous. In January we missed 2 of 4 ports and were issued the 25% off a future cruise. We were happy to get that since weather is not in their control.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[keith75]

Yes you should be concerned. Yes you will probably breakdown. Would I still go? Yes.

Edited April 5, 2014 by keith75

[IGGY63]

A $50 OBC and a 25% discount on a future cruise - not bad. Heck I would pay Carnival $50 and pay a 25% premium on a future cruise just to get them to skip Freeport!:eek::D

 

 

Agreed!

 

That port is not worth visiting.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[chengkp75]

I was on the same cruise with asalligo and the entire ship lost all electricity for almost 2 hours. I have never seen that before: no electricity anywhere on the ship. And, we certainly did not "drift along peacefully," as we were actually moving backwards and the waves were rocking the ship. We also had no electricity Tuesday morning, about 3:30am, although there was discussion on the ship that maybe they had cut the electricity to provide a better fix for whatever problem had caused the outage in the first place.

 

I can also say that we were moving at almost 24 knots coming back and that ship was rocking. They lost a few trays of coffee cups that slide off the buffet as well as some food in the back: the sounds were not pretty. Not sure if they don't think they should be pushing the ship that hard moving from Freeport back to Baltimore, which is why they are canceling or changing that port. But, it was definitely an interesting cruise!

 

Sebship

 

I wasn't there, so I have to go by your description, but it raises some warning flags for me. No electricity anywhere on the ship? This is interesting, as a percentage of the lighting is required to be powered by the emergency generator, which will come on when normal power is lost, and a further percentage of lighting is powered by batteries, to last 4 hours minimum, if even the emergency generator fails. So a total loss of electricity would be worrisome, and the darkness would be absolute.

 

The port change is due to not having one transformer, which means one less pod, which means they can only make the 19 knots they mentioned in the e-mail to the OP, and they cannot make all the ports in time, since as you've said they need to make nearly full speed to accomplish the original schedule.

[pe4all]

I wasn't there, so I have to go by your description, but it raises some warning flags for me. No electricity anywhere on the ship? This is interesting, as a percentage of the lighting is required to be powered by the emergency generator, which will come on when normal power is lost, and a further percentage of lighting is powered by batteries, to last 4 hours minimum, if even the emergency generator fails. So a total loss of electricity would be worrisome, and the darkness would be absolute.

 

The port change is due to not having one transformer, which means one less pod, which means they can only make the 19 knots they mentioned in the e-mail to the OP, and they cannot make all the ports in time, since as you've said they need to make nearly full speed to accomplish the original schedule.

chengkp75 - just have to say I love your explanations! Takes part of the technical guesswork over what may be happening out of these threads. As far as what I would do - if I had air/hotel booked, I would go for it! I am always up for an adventure! :p:D

[vamartha]

I'm thinking the cruise that is leaving out Freeport and just going to Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk sounds simply wonderful!

[maxwell'sparents]

Going to Charleston instead of Freeport with 25% off a future cruise is a sweet deal!

[lady_cruiser]

Going to Charleston instead of Freeport with 25% off a future cruise is a sweet deal!

 

Especially if you have never been to Charleston, like us. Makes me want to book this cruise just for this itinerary.

[frodosmom208]

Can you keep us posted on what you find when you get on board tomorrow. We leave next Sunday. Not really upset about Freeport but hope that everything on board runs smoothly.

[TOP DECK]

The ship's generators generate power at 10,000 volts (like the high tension lines on land), this is then transformed to 480 volts for power around the ship, and further to 220v and 110v for lighting, etc. These are not the transformers they are speaking about, since this would not affect the propulsion.

 

Each azipod motor, in order to run a variable speed, takes the 10,000 volt power, and transforms it to dc current, and then back to ac current (this is technical enough, I'll skip this involved process) for the motor. Each pod has a "main electrical transformer" dedicated to it. Since the ship will make 19 knots, this means they are sailing without one azipod. The USCG will likely require a tug escort for the ship at least until it clears the Key Bridge, and maybe all the way out the Bay, since the ship will only have one means of steering.

 

 

 

The fact that one transformer, for one pod, is down does not increase or decrease the likelihood of the other transformer failing or the pod losing power. It's really up to you, whatever your comfort zone is, but professionally, I would not change a booking because of this. If the itinerary change bothers you, that's different.

 

Transformers rarely malfunction unless struck by lightning or other mishap. Do you believe the transformer is at fault or other equipment, perhaps the frequency inverter which is much more apt to fail. Do the cruise lines usually make public the exact cause of such issues or kinda hide the real problem.