Carnival repairing Splendor

One day into a week-long Mexican Riviera cruise, an engine room fire on Nov. 8 left Carnival Cruise Lines’ Splendor dead in the water. 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew were left without electricity and, hence, no air-conditioning, hot water or hot food. Toilets backed up. While food was airlifted in, tugboats towed the ship 200 miles to San Diego within three days.

Passengers were offered a full refund and a free future cruise. Anyone booked on any of the nine additional Splendor cruises that were canceled will be refunded and get a 25% discount on a cruise.

Carnival plans to have the ship repaired by mid January 2011.