Benton native describes Carnival cruise disaster
By: Hubert Tate
Updated: February 15, 2013
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- A Central Arkansas native is back on land, after a vacation gone wrong on the Carnival Triumph Cruise ship. A fire left her and thousands of passengers helpless at sea for days.
Brittany Rea started her vacation with happy moments. But that didn't last very long.
After losing power on the Carnival Triumph, Rea and other families slept outside and in the hallways. Rea, who is from Benton and now lives in Houston, spoke to us by video chat.
"At first when you hear that screaming over the intercom and you have no idea what it means, it was just terrifying," said Rea.
She says initially she didn't get much information on how the crew would fix the problem.
"I was more concerned with my grandparents, What are we going to do if something happens. And of course my grandma, bless her heart, she said 'If anything happens Brittany save yourself, don't worry about me.' and I said mama don't talk like that."
Eventually, Rea and the other 4,000 passengers made it back safely to Mobile, Alabama. She says after her troubles, the company reimbursed her money, offered her $500, and the opportunity to vacation again on their ship.
Brittany Rea started her vacation with happy moments. But that didn't last very long.
After losing power on the Carnival Triumph, Rea and other families slept outside and in the hallways. Rea, who is from Benton and now lives in Houston, spoke to us by video chat.
"At first when you hear that screaming over the intercom and you have no idea what it means, it was just terrifying," said Rea.
She says initially she didn't get much information on how the crew would fix the problem.
"I was more concerned with my grandparents, What are we going to do if something happens. And of course my grandma, bless her heart, she said 'If anything happens Brittany save yourself, don't worry about me.' and I said mama don't talk like that."
Eventually, Rea and the other 4,000 passengers made it back safely to Mobile, Alabama. She says after her troubles, the company reimbursed her money, offered her $500, and the opportunity to vacation again on their ship.
