The shocking revelation of the Poop Cruise: Documentary shows chaos at sea!

The shocking revelation of the Poop Cruise: Documentary shows chaos at sea!

On July 4, 2025, the new Netflix documentary “Trainwreck: Poop Cruise,” available since June 24, 2025, recalls one of the greatest challenges facing the cruise industry. The documentary reconstructs the Carnival Triumph disaster that took place in the Gulf of Mexico in February 2013. A fire in the engine room caused a massive power outage, leaving the ship with over 4,000 passengers and crew unable to maneuver for five days.

On board, the travelers suffered significant inconveniences: toilets did not work, the air conditioning was out of order, and there was no hot food. To cope with the disastrous hygienic conditions, passengers had to use improvised solutions to relieve themselves, including red plastic bags, while sewage seeped back into cabins and hallways. The incident was quickly nicknamed the “Poop Cruise” because the hygienic conditions were almost unimaginable and the reporting of it caused a worldwide sensation.

The consequences of the accident

The incident was widely criticized on social media and through traditional media. Passengers slept in makeshift tents on the upper deck while food spoiled and the foul smell of sewage polluted the air. The documentary also includes original recordings and reports from former passengers and crew members who describe the oppressive circumstances. Particular attention is paid to the structural deficiencies in security, communication and emergency management, which had serious consequences during the accident.

After the incident, Senator Charles Schumer called for a “Cruise Passenger Bill of Rights” that would guarantee passengers basic rights in emergencies. This charter provides, among other things, that travelers can abandon the ship if services are inadequate. In 2013 it was adopted by the international cruise association CLIA. In Europe, cruise guests are protected by the EU Package Travel Directive 2015/2302.

New beginning of the Carnival Triumph

In 2019, Carnival Triumph underwent a major $200 million modernization and was renamed Carnival Sunrise. The ship is now in service and sails from Miami, Florida, to the Bahamas and the Caribbean on four- to six-night cruises. Following the incident, many shipping companies are investing in technical redundancies and security measures to avoid similar disasters.

Due to stricter regulations regarding the spatial separation of important technical areas and the introduction of systems for the early detection of failures, an event like the Carnival Triumph is largely ruled out. Nevertheless, there remains a residual risk, especially for older or smaller ships and in remote regions.

These new safety measures and cruise ship modernization could help regain passenger confidence after both Carnival Triumph and other ships in the Carnival fleet such as Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Radiance had an unacceptable past that has shaped the industry.

Crucero Magazine reports that the documentary not only reconstructs the events, but also highlights the critical impact it had on the cruise industry. Also Cruise Blog highlights how passengers' impactful experiences led to Carnival Triumph ultimately being renamed Carnival Sunrise and returning to service following extensive renovations.