TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums Afloat Carnival Liberty engine room fire St Thomas

The Carnival Liberty had a fire in the engine room earlier today while at the dock in St Thomas. Word is that no one was hurt and the fire was put out quickly, but all aboard were evacuated. Crew and passengers were seen in Havensight holding onto their life jackets. There is some live info on Cruise Critic. The ship was supposed to sail at 5 but they are still all ashore. Ronnie Lockhart, of Crystal Palace fame, set up tents at the dock for passengers and crew to get out of the sun. (He has a business called Herbie's Big Top for tent rental.)

I meant this for Afloat...Oops

Hi Nutmeg, looks like it's in Afloat now! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" /> Any update?

Seems like lots of fires lately on Cruise Ships. Fortunately, most have occurred while the Ships are docked, and the Passengers are either already ashore, or able to get ashore.
I seem to remember a similar incident happened on a ship while in SXM about 6 months ago and they had to stay an extra day in Port.

Here is an article from The Source. Ronnie said they were going to have to tow it off the dock because they have two ships coming in this morning. I haven't heard if it is gone yet.

They just moved it up in the corner on the WICO dock. Flights to the states went up $200 over night.

Jay

According to Cruise Critic, the passengers have been told they will have a port day in STT today, while the ship is being inspected, as to whether they can sail. They have been told to be back onboard by 4 PM, at which time the captain will update them as to whether and when the cruise will continue.

Now it seems they are trying to get them back to San Juan, but if the Coast Guard won't release the ship, they are going to fly them to Miami...

Now I hear they are arranging charter flights out today. And probably tomorrow. 3000 people is a lot for our little airport.

That is going to be a lot of planes and a lot of luggage. Would not want to be flying out of STT the next two days.

Actually, when that happened in St. Maarten, they chartered flights to get all the passengers home. I wonder if they are going to do a pre-clearance or something, so they all don't have to go through C & I at the airport.

They are evidently bringing charter aircraft in- I saw one from Eastern. Ronnie has put out more tents for the luggage. When I was in Havensight this afternoon, you could hear the music blasting from the pool deck. Getting 3000 people out of here is really a logistical challenge. I really have to give it to Carnival. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

It is funny to see the same boat at the dock for two days...

From what I can tell, just a couple of charter flights today, going to SJU. Apparently most of those people are people who live in SJU, or from overseas. The problem they have is that the cruise started in SJU, but most people are from somewhere else, and have return flights booked and paid for on Sunday! But if they just dump people in SJU, and have them wait for their regularly scheduled flights, all the way on Sunday, they are going to have to pay for hotel rooms and food for people all that time.. So I have to assume that they will try to go ahead and fly people back to the States, starting tomorrow.

Although this thing keeps going back and forth, the latest is supposedly that the ship will sail to San Juan sometime tonight or tomorrow morning and allegedly, next week's cruise, starting on Sunday, is a go. Some people are being flown home today, to their homes, but those that want to are supposedly able to sail back to SJU with the ship and take their original flights home on Sunday. This thing seems to be going back and forth every couple of hours, in terms of what they are doing. Coast Guard seems to be changing their mind, early and often, about what the ship is allowed to do.

They did leave last night with about 1500 passengers. Supposed to be back here Monday. We will see! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I do wonder about that, considering how much trouble they had with getting USCG clearance to sail..

I just got off the Holland Eurodam Sunday morning. On Saturday night, there were multiple announcements about a fire in the incinerator (I thought that's what happened in incinerators?!?). Apparently they originally thought it was outside the incinerator, but it wasn't. Ultimately much ado about nothing.

I am guessing the Cruise Ship crew (Captain) must make the decision to make an announcement and get the fire under control however minor, than to not say anything and let the passengers find out there was a fire and not be told about it. Danged if you do, and danged if you don't.
Thank goodness in your case, it was a non-issue and your Cruise was not interrupted nor was anyone hurt.