Carnival Freedom - Incidents

Incidents

The Orlando Sentinel reports a bartender charged with having sex with a 14-year-old girl who was vacationing with her parents was sentenced to just over three years in federal prison Thursday. The 30 year old man pleaded guilty in June to one count of sexual abuse. In addition to the prison time, he was ordered to pay about $4,360 in restitution. Court records said the teenager, identified as "T.W.," was aboard the Carnival Freedom, which left from the Port of Fort Lauderdale in April 2009. While on the cruise, T.W. and her parents became acquainted with Krispiyanto. T.W. told investigators she was alone on the upper deck of the ship one night when Krispiyanto walked up behind her, grabbed her arm and pulled her into a nearby employee-only room and closed the door, court records said. Krispiyanto had sex with the girl, and then told her to leave, his plea agreement said. T.W. reported the incident to her mother in August, and it was then reported to the FBI. He was indicted in Orlando federal court in May.

From a reader: The ship has missed her port callis in Victoria BC for 3 weeks in a row. The "official" cause is high winds. Odd, in that Oosterdam an identical Holland America vessel has been are able to handle the winds and dock, as do all the other vessels calling into Victoria. 64 port calls this year, 3 misses and all Carnival Spirit. Local press coverage is very bad, and may discourage locals from sailing Carnival if they are that poor at ship handling. Editors note: Given the stop in Victoria is in order to comply with US cabotage laws, it is curious whether the cruise line has been able to have the US waive the $300 per passenger fine for not stopping at a foreign port.

Cruising Talk reports that the ship apparently left Grand Cayman on time but due to reports of something or someone falling overboard, the captain returned to the island and instigated a search of the area. Subsequent enquiries and a full head count revealed that what had been seen going over the side was in fact an inflatable toy monkey that had been on over ten cruises (according to its owner). The cruise has continued without further incident.

The ship left Miami for a seven day cruise to the western Caribbean but was forced to return to port at 3:15&nbsp:am (next day) for a medical emergency. It is unknown how the delay will impact the itinerary which includes Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios.

There was a fire in the linen room on deck-B. While there was smoke, and many towels and bath mats had combusted, the fire was quickly contained and there were no injuries recorded.

A crew worker jumps overboard wearing a life jacket. He was found thirty minutes later and is no longer working for the company.