Fall River couple speaks on ruined cruise vacation

BOSTON -- A Fall River couple spoke out after their getaway vacation turned into a nightmare at sea, and a busted pipe ruined their week away.

“It was just like torrential downpour. It was just like you were outside and it was down pouring on you,” said Jess Daponte, whose cruise was ruined.

Within minutes, the water that cascaded from the ceiling started to flood the 9th floor of a cruise ship, and it drowned the dreams of a relaxing vacation for Jess and Jonathan Daponte.

“All of a sudden this loud bang just went off and it was like a loud generator noise almost, and water just started pouring from the ceiling,” said Jess Daponte.

It was the third day of their Caribbean cruise when they say a pipe over their room broke, dumping gallons of water. Other passengers used towels to try and stop the flooding, because despite three emergency calls, the couple says it was a half hour before a crew member came to help.

“By the time someone did come and they opened up the door again the water was about two feet high,” said Jess Daponte.

“I saw the mattress floating in the water,” said Jonathan Daponte.

This was the first vacation for Jonathan since coming home from Iraq.

“This was my chance to be home and spend some time with my family,” said Jonathan Daponte.

Instead he ended up with his dress blues waterlogged and his stress level on high after hearing the compensation offer from the company was 50 percent off a future cruise.

“You guys promise a vacation of a lifetime…but you’ve given up on us and not tried to help us out,” said Jonathan Daponte.

A spokesperson from the cruise line issued a statement: “We tried our best to provide them with assistance while on the ship, and sincerely regret if we did not satisfy their expectations.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan Daponte says what they never got was an apology.

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