A new documentary on Netflix, “Trainwreck: Poop Cruise,” delves into the harrowing events aboard the Carnival Triumph in February 2013. The cruise, which set sail from Galveston, Texas, to Cozumel, Mexico, turned into a nightmare when an engine fire left over 4,000 passengers stranded at sea without power for five days. This incident, infamously dubbed the “poop cruise,” exposed passengers to unsanitary conditions and chaos as they were eventually towed to Mobile, Alabama.

The documentary features firsthand accounts from passengers who endured the ordeal, describing the dire circumstances they faced, including defecating in biohazard bags and witnessing fights due to the lack of power and basic amenities. The Carnival Triumph disaster highlighted significant safety vulnerabilities within the cruise industry. In response, Carnival Cruise Line conducted a thorough investigation and invested over $500 million to enhance fire prevention, suppression systems, and overall safety measures across its fleet.

Stewart Chiron, a cruise industry expert known as “The Cruise Guy,” emphasized that while the situation was uncomfortable for passengers and crew, safety measures ensured no lives were lost. Supplies were replenished by nearby ships as the Triumph was towed to safety. Chiron noted that lessons learned from this incident have prevented similar occurrences in the future.

The documentary has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with viewers expressing shock at the conditions and behavior of some passengers during the crisis. Comments ranged from disbelief at the lack of preparedness to criticism of passenger reactions. Despite the challenges faced during the incident, Carnival Cruise Line has since hosted over 53 million guests on safe and memorable voyages.