Social media pro: I was aboard Carnival Dream—here’s what went wrong

The author, who cruised on the troubled Dream liner, explains how Carnival failed at communicating with its passengers.

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On Mar. 9, 2013, my husband and I sailed on the Carnival Dream as we celebrated our honeymoon. We were treated to the usual cruise luxuries: hot meals, unlimited soft drinks, and beautiful ocean views.

Carnival treats its customers well, and we were confident that the company had learned from the Carnival Triumph engine room fire. Unfortunately, our high hopes were dashed as we found ourselves stuck in port with more than 5,000 passengers and crew five days into our voyage.

It has not been a good year for Carnival. Still reeling from the Costa Concordia tragedy last January, Carnival’s latest mishaps aboard the Triumph and Dream have led to an increasingly souring reputation. But Carnival’s biggest missteps have little to do with a few incompetent captains, failing generators, and overflowing toilets.

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