Passengers on board the Carnival Freedom were in for a shock when a fire broke out on the ship. The vessel was docked in Grand Turk after it left Port Canaveral on Monday for a Caribbean cruise at the time.
Following the incident, Carnival Cruise Line issued a statement on Thursday morning, reporting that the fire started in the ship’s funnel. The exact cause of the fire has not been made public as the investigation is ongoing.
Fortunately, many of the passengers were off the ship and onshore when the fire broke out. Those passengers who were on the ship said they were asked to put on life jackets and meet at the muster stations as soon as the fire was reported.
Footage of the fire was taken by passengers on board Carnival Cruise’s sister ship, the Mardi Gras, which was docked at the same pier across from the Freedom. Passengers witnessed heavy smoke coming from the Freedom’s dining room and debris falling from the vessel. This footage quickly made its way to the Internet and social media.
Witnesses reported that the crew remained completely calm during the ordeal. No evacuations were ordered, and passengers on board the ship reported that they felt the situation was under control.
How the crew members responded and how the incident was handled highlights how important safety briefings and procedures are for passengers boarding a cruise vessel. Passengers need to know where to go in the event of an emergency and should closely follow all instructions provided by the ship’s crew. While incidents like these are rare, reacting appropriately can save lives.
According to Carnival’s schedule, Carnival Freedom is still scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on Saturday morning at 7 a.m.
Aronfeld Trial Lawyers is a personal injury firm located in Miami, Florida since 1991. We have fought hard to hold cruise lines accountable when they put their profits ahead of passenger safety. We are available 24/7 and encourage you to contact us even if you are still on your cruise. The sooner we can begin our investigation and preservation of key evidence, such as the CCTV footage of your trip and fall, slip and fall, assault, or other type of injury the more likely we will be able to understand and prove how the incident occurred. Remember, the cruise lines have the most aggressive and well-funded defense lawyers in the world- protecting their profits. You need an experienced legal advocate in your corner who will fight to obtain the compensation you deserve for lost wages, medical expenses, transportation reimbursement and pain and suffering. Call us today and speak with a cruise ship claims lawyer about your potential claim- toll free 1-866-597-4529, 305-441-0440, or by email. We are ready to help.
Source: Carnival cruise ship catches fire in Grand Turk (wesh.com)
