Cruise passenger: People thought ship was "going to tip over"

(CBS News) Four thousand people who have been adrift at sea for four days are finally nearing shore Thursday night. This evening, the Carnival cruise ship named Triumph is being towed into Mobile Bay, Ala., and is expected to dock by midnight.

She left Galveston, Texas, a week ago, loaded with her maximum 3,143 passengers and crew of 1,100. The brochure described a four-day cruise in the Caribbean, but an engine room fire left her adrift and powerless.

All aboard have suffered in squalid conditions, stranded as Carnival slowly brought the ship in.

When CBS News flew over the Carnival Triumph, it was within sight of shore -- but still seven hours away from the dock.

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From up there we could see people waving, some with signs that appear to be made out of bed sheets. One said "SOS" -- save our ship -- but at this point it's not the ship that needs saving, it's the passengers.

The ship has been without power since an engine room fire five days ago. CBS News reached passenger Jacob Combs on the phone.

"The really bad part is there was no running water and toilets for almost the first 30 hours," Combs said. "Once they finally did get running water, the toilets only worked in certain places. I would say it's the worst smell imaginable."

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Aboard the Carnival Triumph cruise ship

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Emailed photos (above) reveal squalid conditions. Many passengers used red plastic bags as toilets. Hundreds slept in hallways or topside to escape the foul and stagnate air below deck.

Carnival CEO Jerry Cahill insists passengers were never at risk. But 22-year old Leslie Mayberry disagreed.

"It was leaning to one side it was literally like walking up hill whenever the boat was leaning," she said. "I mean it was very scary," Mayberry said. "I mean a lot of people thought it was going to tip over and sink. And then you look out on the deck and you see the ocean and there is no one, you are just by yourself and you are so alone, even though you are around 3,000 other people on this boat."

The towline pulling the 14-story tall ship snapped, delaying Thursday's operation. It was re-attached, but it will be nightfall before the ship arrives at the terminal. Nellie Betts came from Tupelo, Miss., to meet her daughter.

"There's no reason why those people should be out there as long as they have. Why? I want to understand why," she said. "What is taking them so long to get them out?"

Once the ship arrives at the terminal, Carnival plans to put most of those passengers on a two-hour bus rid to New Orleans or even to Galveston, Texas, but some already are saying, "no thanks" - they have relatives picking them up in Mobile so they can go straight home.

[saneObserver]

I love the photes of the US Coast guard flying in a generator. Where was the Panmanian coast guard where that ship is registered. I only hope the coast guard charges Carnival the king's randsom for it.

[bluejacket2-2009]

Whatever.... the freaking ship was secure.... Every report I heard was that the crew where heros...

I guess it's hard for the media when a bad sitution ends up ok..

[sickofbull]

Oh, sure, as long as you like wading in other folks' excrement and breathing the air from the open sewer on the decks and soaked into some of the mattresses as it dripped from one deck to the other. Bet you would not have lasted ten minutes without squealing like a baby.

[leftcoastrocky]

If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost. The Minnow would be lost.

[virtualrealitys]

Seriously, people thought the ship was going to tip over? Obviously said "people" have never been at sea in something other than a luxury cruiseliner. Boats list from side to side because of... wait for it.... WAVES. Cruise ships have stablizers that stick out into the water to make them rock back and forth less, but no engine, no power = no stabilizers.

[fredevans]

What bothers me about this is not that a ship had a major issue (which could have been a hell of a lot worse) but that they'll build ships (Are we having fun yet?) that packs in 4,000 some folks. WW2 troupe ships ships I can see/understand.

Lets assume there was a real/major issue ... how would you get all those folks off and into life boats/rafts. And as far as life boats, just count what you can see 'times two.' Each of those will hold (assuming you launch them in time) maybe 30'ish people. The rest of the 4,000 have to go into the water and climb into a life raft. Why anyone would go on a 'cruize' on a ship like this bugger's belief.

[democracy8]

Can we say "Titanic"?

[enlightenu]

There are more than enough life boats on a cruise ship, thanks to Titanic.

[ridgebac]

Cruising has become hazardous to life and limb. it's for suckers and fools until these ships are registered in the US, Canada. Europe or Japan and inspected by the authorities in those countries. Yeh I know Malta is a lovely place but maybe it and countries like it aren't the best for safety inspections and laws to prevent illness and death on the high seas.

[Wookiee-1138]

Bloody landlubbers expecting being at sea to be like a nice hotel.

[sickofbull]

And so it should. At least that is exactly what ships that are working correctly are. Sheesh, that is why folks cruise. They are certainly PAYING for better than they got.

[Adam60z]

How many people on this ship are there because of a fear of flying? ;-p

[WhysAlives]

First-world problem.

[spitbucketbaptismo]

Five days of captivity aboard a broken vessel and the ship's toilets wouldn't work. The funk must be overpowering. Yikes and stinky. Avast matey, toss me a bar of soap.

[sickofbull]

Not to mention dangerous to health. Some of the clowns making fun of the folks who had to deal with this are morons if they believe this was any fun or particularly enjoyable. Or safe. The cruise line should have evacuated all passengers when it happened. Despite the fine print in the tickets, hopefully the cruise line will have to face responsibility in court.