A forthcoming Netflix documentary series promises to revisit one of the cruise industry’s most notorious incidents that left 4,000 passengers in deplorable conditions for days at sea.
The catastrophic voyage, which occurred in 2013 and earned the infamous nickname “poop cruise,” will be featured in an upcoming episode of Netflix’s documentary anthology series exploring extraordinary modern disasters.
The streaming service has announced its new program will examine some of history’s most bizarre and headline-grabbing events through firsthand accounts from witnesses and survivors who experienced these incidents directly.
This anthology series promises to explore various spectacular failures across different industries and events, from entertainment festivals to corporate scandals and maritime disasters.
The initial episode debuted in 2022, examining the chaotic Woodstock 1999 festival, and the series will continue releasing weekly episodes covering other significant mishaps including music festival tragedies, retail company controversies, and this particular cruise ship disaster.
The episode focusing on the Carnival Triumph cruise liner will detail how a luxury four-day voyage from Texas to Mexico transformed into a floating health hazard overrun with raw sewage.
The crisis began when a fire erupted in the engine compartment, but the subsequent power failure created far more serious problems for the thousands of passengers aboard.
The blaze damaged critical electrical systems that powered the entire vessel, leaving it adrift without electricity, refrigeration, lighting, climate control, or functioning sanitation facilities.
Conditions deteriorated rapidly as the preview footage shows passengers wading through ankle-deep waste while being instructed to use red biohazard bags for bathroom needs.
The situation description explains how sewage contaminated the ship throughout, food supplies diminished, and passenger tensions escalated while the disabled vessel remained stranded at sea.
Passenger accounts from 2013 described witnessing waste on walls throughout the ship while struggling with overwhelming odors and unsanitary conditions.
Without proper lighting and seeking relief from the stench, passengers gathered in communal spaces like the deck for sleeping, subsisting on minimal meals such as basic vegetable sandwiches.
The documentary preview features testimonials from both passengers and crew members, including kitchen staff, describing their immediate shift into emergency protocols once power systems failed.
One participant emphasized how rapidly conditions deteriorated, while crew members explained the impossible sanitation challenges they faced.
Passengers expressed disbelief at having to resort to using waste bags, while others described conflicts breaking out among travelers who established makeshift living areas on the upper decks.
At the time of the incident, Carnival’s leadership issued public statements acknowledging the failure to provide acceptable vacation experiences.
The company’s then-President and CEO expressed apologies to affected guests and their families, admitting the onboard situation was unacceptable and represented a clear failure in their service standards.
The series begins its weekly release schedule on June 10, with the specific cruise disaster episode becoming available for viewing on June 24.