Stranded Passengers

Amanda Brown

Updated: 2/14 8:15 am

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Stranded Passengers

Over a dozen Victoria County residents are aboard the Carnival Triumph cruise ship that was disabled after an engine room fire knocked out its primary power source and burned-out its four engines. Family members of those on the ship including some from here in Victoria are glued to the tvs and the phones waiting for any news about their loved ones.

Myersville resident Dawn Otto said she has family members and friends aboard the Carnival cruise that left Galveston on Thursday. By Sunday, the ship was about 150 miles off Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula when an engine room fire knocked out its main power source, causing problems with the ships plumbing and water systems and leaving the 4,000 plus passengers and crew on board in an uncomfortable situation. Otto said she has only received brief calls from family members assuring her they're okay and doing fine, eating cold sandwiches and trying to make the best of the situation by playing cards, but she says them having no restrooms and no air-conditioning has made loved ones back home worrisome.

Thursday the towed cruise ship will arrive in Mobile, Alabama where travelers will be given the opportunity to stay the night at a hotel and then presented with several options on how to get back to Galveston. Otto said the four day cruise has taken twice as long and many of the Victoria County residents aboard are self-employed and eager to get home, so family and friends are hoping to help out by driving their cars back home from Galveston so they can fly to Houston and get home faster. Surprisingly, Otto said she doesn't think the bad trip will discourage her family and friends from going on another cruise. They are expected back home Friday and will get a full refund for their trip, and discounts towards future trips.