Carnival Ecstasy Loses Power Off The Coast Of Florida

The report that their 2,056-passenger Ecstasy ship, which was sailing off the coast of Florida, lost power shows Carnival Cruise Line that they still have a lot of issues to deal with.

"The power outage...occurred late Wednesday and only lasted for about 12 minutes, Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen told USA Today.

Gulliksen added that "the power loss was caused by a mechanical issue that was quickly repaired. There was no engine fire on the vessel, as was reported early Thursday by a Florida news outlet."

The loss of power on the Ecstasy comes nearly two months after an engine room fire knocked out power on the Carnival Triumph, during its sailing in the Gulf of Mexico, leaving the 2,758-passenger ship dead in the water.

Passengers described the experience of being without power as "miserable" as the ship was towed to Mobile, Ala. The much-publicized event has dealt a significant blow to the line's reputation.

This incident comes just a day after Carnival announced plans for a massive, $300 million upgrade to emergency power systems, fire systems and engine-related electrical components on its 24 ships to prevent a repeat of what happened on the Carnival Triumph.

"The actions by Carnival Cruise Lines will expand the availability of hotel services for the comfort of its guests in the rare instance of a shipboard event that involves the loss of main power," Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill said in a statement accompanying the announcement, according to USA Today. "In addition, the plan will reinforce key shipboard operating systems to further prevent a potential loss of primary power."

For a cruise line that has already cut prices to gain business, putting a big gash in their profit numbers, there is no much else they can do beside offering free rides and even though Carnival Corp. chairman Micky Arison told analysts last week that bookings at Carnival Cruise Lines, which declined by double digits in the days after the Triumph fire, had rebounded significantly, thanks in part to price promotions, things might be heading in the other direction, once again.