Royal Caribbean Cancels, The Cruise Ship That Never Should've Sailed

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several developments within the cruise industry for March 19. Royal Caribbean has started notifying passengers that upcoming itineraries including Labid, Haiti, will be altered to exclude that port. These changes extend through at least mid-April and include alternative stops such as Grand Turk or Perfect Day at CocoCay. The cruise line stated these adjustments are precautionary rather than a response to direct violence. The report also revisits a historical incident involving the Viking Sky. Officials noted that the ship should not have sailed during a storm five years ago when a large wave caused injuries and a mass helicopter evacuation. An investigation by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority found that the vessel failed to meet safety standards due to technical and operational deficiencies, specifically regarding insufficient lubricating oil in the diesel generators. Finally, the report mentions that a replica of Michelangelo's David, which was previously on the Carnival Pride, will move to the Carnival Firenze. The Carnival Firenze is scheduled to begin its inaugural cruise from Long Beach on April 25.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.