MOBILE, Ala. -- A cruise ship disabled for five nightmarish days in the Gulf finally docked with some 4,200 people aboard late Thursday, passengers raucously cheering the end to an ocean odyssey they say was marked by overflowing toilets, food shortages and foul odors.
"Sweet Home Alabama!" read one of the homemade signs passengers affixed alongside the 14-story ship as many celebrated at deck rails lining several levels of the stricken ship Triumph. The ship's horn loudly blasted several times on its final docking approach as some gave a thumbs-up sign and flashes from cameras and cellphones lit the night.About an hour after the ship pulled up at 9:15 p.m. Central time, a steady stream of passengers began making their way down the glass-enclosed gangplank, some in wheelchairs and others pulling carry-on luggage. One man gave a thumbs-up.An ambulance pulled up to a gate at the bottom of the gangplank, then its lights went on and it pulled away.For Brittany Ferguson, 24, of Texas, not knowing how long passengers had to endure their time aboard was the worst part."I'm feeling awesome just to see land and buildings," Ferguson said. "The scariest part was just not knowing when we'd get back"As the ship pulled up, some aboard shouted, "Hello, Mobile!"A few dozen relatives on the top floor of the parking deck of the terminal were waving lights at the ship as it carefully made its way alongside.Those about were screaming, whistling and taking pictures.Hundreds gawked from dockside at the arrival at the Alabama cruise terminal in Mobile, the state's only seaport, as the Triumph docked.Taxis were lined up waiting for people, and motorists on Interstate 10 stopped to watch the exodus of passengers from the cruise ship.It took six grueling hours navigating the 30-odd-mile ship channel to dock, guided by at least four towboats.Nearly 900 feet in length, it was the largest cruise ship ever to dock at Mobile.It will take up to five hours for all the 3,000 passengers to be off, Carnival has said.Carnival said all passengers have the option of a seven-hour bus ride to Galveston or Houston or a two-hour trip to New Orleans. Some also can stay in Mobile."I can't imagine being on that ship this morning and then getting on a bus," said Kirk Hill, whose 30-year-old daughter, Kalin Christine Hill, was on the cruise. "If I hit land in Mobile, you'd have a hard time getting me on a bus."Up to 100 buses were standing by to take the passengers to their next stop.Galveston is the home port of the ill-fated ship, which lost power in an engine-room fire Sunday some 150 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.It was the end of a cruise that wasn't anything like what a brochure might describe.Carnival CEO Gerry Cahill apologized at a news conference and later on the public address system as people were disembarking."I appreciate the patience of our guests and their ability to cope with the situation. And I'd like to reiterate the apology I made earlier. I know the conditions on board were very poor," he said. "We pride ourselves on providing our guests with a great vacation experience, and clearly we failed in this particular case."Earlier Thursday -- four days after the 893-foot ship was crippled in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico -- the passengers and crew suffered another setback with towline issues that brought the vessel to a dead stop for about an hour just when it was getting close to port.As the vessel drew within cellphone range Thursday, passengers vented their anger.Renee Shanar of Houston was on board with her husband, who she said has heart trouble.They were told they will be among the first to disembark, she said."I don't believe them; they've been lying to us from the beginning," Shanar said.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
