We’re about to find out if Carnival Cruise Lines has learned their social media crisis lesson or if they’re going to continue their silence vows.

Yesterday, the Costa Allegra (of the Costa Concordia line) had a fire erupt in the generator room, leaving the ship without lights and air conditioning.

The soonest rescue boats will reach the ship is sometime today.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Italian Coast Guard officials said emergency generators are keeping the ship’s control room illuminated and communications equipment such as radios running. The paper is also reporting officials said the cruise liner is holding steady, despite five-foot waves in the area and passengers are being kept in the ship’s big communal rooms, not in their cabins.

As well, the ship is adrift off the coast of Tazania…where there have been a rash of Somali pirate attacks in recent months.

But, as of this writing, there is no mention of the fire or the Costa Allegra on any of their social networks. (more…)