Carnival Triumph Disaster Not Hurting Local Cruise Bookings - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Carnival Triumph Disaster Not Hurting Local Cruise Bookings

A local travel agent says the horror stories about the disastrous Carnival Triumph cruise is not throwing local cruise bookings off course.   Eric Dahlstrand, manager of Miller Travel Group says even as the disaster unfolded, people here kept booking cruises. In fact it's a busy time of year for it. Miller travel does book on Carnival Cruise Lines.

Agents here say after the disaster, they will remind people to read the fine print on their ticket contract which protects the line from all kinds of problems, including mechanical failures.

"Everyone who sails is furnished with a cruise contract and this sort of thing is addressed in very plain straight forward English as far as mechanical breakdown, failure of the vessel if something like this should happen," said Dahlstrand. "I think Carnival's doing everything in their power to make it right and going over and above their responsibilities," added Dahlstrand.  The cruise line is refunding the price of the cruise and offering a $500 cash settlement.

Miller travel will also advise those booking cruises to get and travel with a passport even when going in and out of a U.S. port.   The Triumph was almost re-routed to a Mexican port. Dahlstrand said, "If a passenger needed to fly home from there with out a passport, it's not an option."