Crippled cruise close to Ala. terminal

The cruise ship Carnival Triumph is towed up the Mobile River in Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. / AP Photo/Dave Martin

Updated 10:06 PM

MOBILE, Ala. A cruise ship disabled for days at sea is within sight of the terminal at Mobile, Ala., but passengers still have hours to wait to disembark.

A few dozen relatives on the top floor of the parking deck were waving lights at the ship late Thursday.

Just earlier, a Carnival official said the disabled ship Triumph was now 5 miles from the cruise terminal.

Terry Thornton said the ship was expected to arrive between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. Central time Thursday.

He said warm food, blankets, cellphones await passengers.

He said the ship would be taken Friday to a nearby repair facility to be assessed.

The miserable passengers aboard the ill-fated Carnival cruise line were slowly making their long journey home after crews repaired a broken tow line, another bad break that briefly set the ship adrift off the Alabama coast.

At about 4:20 p.m. CT Triumph entered Mobile Bay, although at the time it was still hours from the Alabama terminal. The broken towline and its replacement had delayed the ship's arrival.

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Aboard the Carnival Triumph cruise ship

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Conditions worsen on damaged cruise ship

On Thursday night, dozens of chartered buses — with markings from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas — had gathered in Mobile.

Carnival said it will cover transportation costs.

Docking a ship takes three hours in a normal operation. But because of the ship's condition, it is taking many, many more hours than usual, CBS Mobile affiliate WKRG reported. CEO of the Alabama State Port Authority Jimmy Lyons says the winches are inoperable and the thrusters that normally get it in and out of the berths aren't working. Additionally, Triumph's arrival is also slowed by high winds.

A nighttime arrival could pose more complications, Lyons said. He said port officials prefer that the ship not come into the city at night because there are tricky turns and cross currents in Mobile Bay. He described the bay as only 10 feet deep outside the ship channel.

Since a fire in the engine room left the ship powerless Sunday, the ship abandoned its plans to travel to the Progreso, Mexico, and has been drifting to Mobile, Ala.

Conditions on the cruise ship continue to be dismal. Emailed photos (gallery at left) reveal squalid conditions. CBS correspondent Anna Werner reports many passengers used red plastic bags as toilets and that hundreds slept in hallways or topside to escape the foul and stagnate air below the deck. One passenger told CBS News at one point the ship leaned on one side so much, people feared it would tip over and sink.

From a helicopter, Werner said she could see people waving and some had signs that appear to be made out of bedsheets. One said "SOS" -- save our ship.

• Carnival cancels 12 more cruises on troubled ship
• Inside Carnival cruise nightmare: Passenger describes deteriorating conditions

Robert Giordano, who said his wife Shannon is on the ship, said he was frustrated with the lack of information he has been able to get from Carnival, a complaint shared by Vivian Tilley, of San Diego, whose sister is also on the vessel.

Carnival, she said, has not told families what hotel passengers will be put in or provided precise information about when they will arrive in Mobile, Ala. And that came after the cruise line switched the ship's towing destination from Progreso to Mobile.

Carnival Senior Vice President Terry Thornton said in a press conference earlier Thursday that care teams were on their way to Mobile to assist families, "provide more information and to take care as best we can their needs," according to WKRG.

[Ulgnud]

It,s inconvenient yes. The seas are calm. No freezing temperatures, the ship isn't sinking, Supplies can be helicoptered out, or delivered by a small freighter. The only reason there is urine and feces everywhere is the people aren't urinating and crapping over the side. The cruise line is really trying hard to make the best of it despite the problems. The only thing I would suggest is to modify the ship so not all power is lost when the engine catches fire. There is plenty of room to re-locate a couple of generators elsewhere. That way ships systems would still function at a reduced level. Even if they have to make port under tow.

[MIO42]

Was on the Mediterranean storm hit ,what a nightmare
Will never get on a Cruise ship again

[Segesser1]

They could probably get those people off the ship if they really wanted too.

[38hazle38]

We Americans think everything is Always perfect then when it is not we cry and complain. Most of our society are completely naive to the real world. :(

[38hazle38]

Never could figure out why you would want to go on a cruise with 4000 people. I guess people wonder why I go on cruises across the country on my motorcycle

[Transatlantique]

Sea air is very different from that of land. I'm glad you enjoy yourself, and that I'm not you.

[VA_Jill]

Now that the ship is in Mobile Bay, can't they get the passengers off without making them wait hours or days to get it docked?

[Andrew_K9]

Why are people peeing and pooping on the floors and not in the toilets? Do the toilets not work? And wouldn't a cruise ship have enough food items to provide the people for a few days? Lots of questions, little answers.

[alykbrandes]

well....... the toilets are partially ran by electricity so no toilets are working, and backed up from use. They have enough food, its just a matter of cooking it. the cruise lines use mostly frozen foods to feed people because it stores better than fresh food.

[Transatlantique]

" the cruise lines use mostly frozen foods to feed people because it stores better than fresh food." - That's not true. Sure, some of it is in the freezer, but its not like a frozen dinner. It is prepared gourmet from scratch.

[Jhihmoac]

Fun stuff...I'm sure they're gonna lose a few loyal customers...

[rmm26a]

hahaha. Suckers! Cruises are the biggest waste of money ever!

[Transatlantique]

Cruises are not a waste of money. I have been on several, including 9 crossings of the Atlantic, and have enjoyed myself every time.

[LeslieLuise]

I have never been on a cruise ship and have thought about it seriously. Now I will never ever go on any cruise ship no matter how great the deal or fabulous the destination. They turned me off to begin with ... all those people all crammed together with shops in a mall type set up (I can't stand Malls that aren't on ships) gambling, restaurants - so what! Not my style at all. Poor people. You are all a bunch of sick, incompetent clowns, Carnival ... that's where clowns belong ... Deplorable in every way. $500. to each person and a free pass on another sickening, miserable, Carnival cruise. In 2013 you are trying to tell all of us that you were unable to rescue those people from that ship ... they had to rot in that hellish mess while the boat "drifted" along? We are not stupid people. Carnival, your executive management should all be fired and then your company should be condemned for endangering the lives of your passengers and put out of business for good.

[Transatlantique]

@BLUDAPFEL, it depends on the ship. You have obviously never been on a cruise or a crossing, and there is a difference.