Recently we reported on the Carnival cruise ship that was stranded off the coast of Mexico without power or running water for five days in mid-February, forcing passengers to live in unsanitary conditions until the vessel finally returned to the shore. Unfortunately, the similar issues that plagued that vessel appear to be happening once again. 

Just last week, the Carnival Legend and the Carnival Dream both ran into problems while out at sea, reports CNN.

After the Legend's propulsion system became damaged, more than 2,000 distraught folks were forced to miss the last leg of their Caribbean cruise. Less than nine hours after unloading the occupants, the same ship departed Tampa, Florida, with a new group of vacationers while Carnival Cruise Lines released a statement assuring people that the vessel was safe. 

Meanwhile, the Dream lost power and toilets stopped working while the watercraft was docked in St. Maarten, and no one was allowed to get off. Passengers, who were ultimately flown home and given discounts, told the source that there was a distinct lack of communication throughout the ordeal. 

These incidents have prompted Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., to call on the cruise boat industry for its adoption of a "passenger bill of rights."

"Passengers have the right to real-time information updates. When something is wrong on the ship almost nothing is worse than not knowing when it's going to be fixed and what's going to happen next," Schumer said. "Every ship should have a back-up generator in case the power fails as it has done on a number of ships before,"

It's certainly a relief to hear that the folks on these vessels are safe. But, these incidents are reminders of the risks that boat owners face every day out on the water. With this in mind, many individuals and organizations turn to experienced marine insurance agencies to ensure that they are covered in the event of a maritime accident.

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