Cruise & Cruise Line

Thick Smoke Disrupts Passengers' Night on Carnival Cruise

Image: PHOTO: Carnival Sensation (photo courtesy Carnival Cruise Line)
Image: PHOTO: Carnival Sensation (photo courtesy Carnival Cruise Line)
Alex Temblador
by Alex Temblador
Last updated: 10:27 AM ET, Tue February 12, 2019

Three thousand passengers on the Carnival Sensation panicked on Monday morning with reports of a fire onboard.

The Carnival Sensation was nearing the end of the western Caribbean cruise when a thick amount of smoke alerted passengers and workers that something was wrong.

Passenger Troy McCarty told Local 10, "The fire alarms didn't go off at all, and I didn't see any crew members."

"My sister-in-law was beating on our door a little after 3 this morning, saying, 'Get out! There's a fire!'" he said.

McCarty snapped photos of crew members wearing fire gear and evacuating passengers to the main deck.

"You couldn't even see in front of you 6 (feet) when you exited the room, and it was hard to breathe," McCarty said.

For McCarty and the other passengers, this was the second major incident on the trip. Carnival Sensation skipped a planned stop in Mexico the day before so a sick worker could be airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard to a hospital.

"We've never had it like this before," McCarty said. "I mean, there was always a little something, but not like this."

Despite the profuse amount of smoke, Carnival Cruise Line said there wasn't a fire, but that the smoke was coming from a housekeeping storage area.

McCarty doesn't believe them. "Where there's smoke, there's fire," he said.

Carnival Cruise Line apologized to the upset passengers, but according to reports on Twitter, they will not compensate guests for all the mishaps that occurred on the trip.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Related Videos

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Watch Now!
United's newest routes and next-generation airport experiencesWednesday, October 28, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join United for an exclusive look at United’s latest network expansion and exciting new airport...
Upcoming Webinar
Mexico for the Western Traveler Part 2: 2026Tuesday, October 29, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West and TravelPulse in the virtual studios for Discover Mexico for the...
Upcoming Webinar
River Cruises PlusMonday, October 26, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, TravelPulse and leaders from top river cruise companies to get the...
Watch Now!
United's newest routes and next-generation airport experiencesWednesday, October 28, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join United for an exclusive look at United’s latest network expansion and exciting new airport...
Upcoming Webinar
Mexico for the Western Traveler Part 2: 2026Tuesday, October 29, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West and TravelPulse in the virtual studios for Discover Mexico for the...
Upcoming Webinar
River Cruises PlusMonday, October 26, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West, TravelPulse and leaders from top river cruise companies to get the...