Netflix announced the release of Trainwreck: Poop Cruise, a documentary examining the 2013 Carnival cruise disaster that stranded over 4,000 passengers without power or working plumbing for four days.
The film explores the voyage from Galveston, Texas, to Cozumel, Mexico, that devolved into chaos after an engine room fire disabled the ship’s electrical systems. Director James Ross chronicles how the mechanical failure created cascading problems aboard the vessel.
The power outage eliminated air conditioning and rendered toilets inoperable. Raw sewage flooded hallways as the food supply dwindled. Passengers slept on deck in extreme heat as conditions deteriorated rapidly.
Poop Cruise continues Netflix’s Trainwreck documentary series, which launched in 2022 with an examination of Woodstock ’99. The franchise investigates high-profile disasters and cultural moments that became media spectacles.
Previous entries have covered the Astroworld tragedy and the collapse of American Apparel. Each installment analyzes the underlying factors that contributed to these public failures.
The documentary features interviews with passengers and crew members who experienced the crisis firsthand. It also examines the corporate response and media coverage that followed the incident.
Early viewer reactions on social media have drawn comparisons to Netflix’s Fyre documentary. Comments range from fascination with the breakdown of social order to reinforced skepticism about cruise travel.
One viewer noted the rapid deterioration of conditions, while another expressed longstanding interest in the story. Others cited the incident as validation for avoiding cruise vacations entirely.
The film explores broader themes about infrastructure failure and human behavior under stress. It also analyzes the public relations challenges companies face during highly publicized crises.
Trainwreck: Poop Cruise is currently streaming on Netflix as part of the platform’s documentary programming.
