Netflix Releases Documentary on 2013 Carnival 'Poop Cruise' Power Outage

The 2013 Carnival Triumph cruise, infamously known as the "Poop Cruise," suffered a catastrophic engine room fire that caused a widespread power failure, leaving over 4,000 passengers stranded without working toilets, power, or air conditioning for four days. Passengers were forced to use red biohazard bags for waste and endured limited food supplies, such as soggy bread and tomato sandwiches, while the ship was towed to Mobile, Alabama. The incident sparked multiple lawsuits accusing Carnival of negligence, with investigations revealing overdue maintenance on the ship's diesel generator. In response, the cruise industry established a "passenger bill of rights" to improve customer protections during emergencies, including refunds and timely updates. The ordeal is now the subject of Netflix's documentary "Trainwreck: Poop Cruise," which revisits the traumatic experiences of survivors, though some passengers feel the film commercializes their suffering without fully representing their voices. Critics note that despite the event's discomfort and media attention at the time, the documentary may not add substantial new insight or entertainment value beyond recounting the harrowing conditions onboard.