Finally, the Carnival Triumph is drawing close to land, bringing hundreds of weary passengers closer to getting back home. Carnival has arranged to compensate the passengers, offering everything from covering the costs of their passage home to an additional $500 bonus. The cruise line is also offering Triumph guests a free Carnival cruise in the future, but whether any of them will be hurry to get back on a boat anytime soon remains to be seen.
HLN affiliate KHOU has started tweeting photos from on board the ship. Here is a long line of mattresses along a breezeway where people slept.
#khouMore photos coming from the #Carnival #Triumph.Here are a sea of mattresses in a breeze way. twitter.com/BillBishopKHOU…
— Bill Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU) February 14, 2013
Finally, people have access to power to charge their cell phones and other devices.
#khouIn this photo, #Carnival #Triumph passengers are charging phones at one of the few working power outlets. twitter.com/BillBishopKHOU…
— Bill Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU) February 14, 2013
And here is a peek at one of the community "bedrooms" set up in a dining area.
#khouPhotos are coming in from the #Carnival #Triumph. Here's a community bedroom in a dining area on the ship. twitter.com/BillBishopKHOU…
— Bill Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU) February 14, 2013
The Salvation Army is on hand to bring hot chocolate to passengers, who have complained of being cold as the boat approaches its destination.
RT @salarmycoastal: Hot chocolate heading up to the families! #triumph #salvationarmy twitpic.com/c3qgjx
— Salvation Army ALM (@salarmyalm) February 14, 2013
At 7:11 p.m., Carnival tweeted and said a tug line broke and is being replaced. Looks like the passengers have a bit longer to wait yet.
Update on the C. Triumph: A tug line broke and is being replaced.
— Carnival Cruise Line (@CarnivalCruise) February 14, 2013
One passenger tweeted a pic of the ship in NYC, an idyllic snapshot that seems a touch ironic after the events of the past few days.
Aboard the future ill-fated Carnival Triumph in NYC #tbt #carnival #triumph #carnivaltriumph #cruise… instagr.am/p/VuPkrfTPwK/
— Frank & Beth (@farbav) February 14, 2013
As more tweets pour in, we have more photos from the ship. One affecting snapshot shows passengers spelling out the word "help" with their bodies.
Passengers using their bodies to spell "HELP" #triumph #carnival twitter.com/atompkins/stat…
— al tompkins (@atompkins) February 14, 2013
Pictures of signs are starting to show up from the passengers who have cell phone juice again, such as this one here.
RIP Triumph. A sign we made. @cnn @cbs #carnivaltriumph twitter.com/iamclarkjones/…
— clark jones. (@iamclarkjones) February 14, 2013
Carnival Cruise has updated its official Twitter, saying that their crew will create a luggage brigade in the stairwells to get people off the ship as soon as possible. They've also clarified that children and the elderly will be the first permitted to debark.
The debark process will be challenging given the limited # of elevators & power. The disembarkation process could take as long as 4-5 hrs
— Carnival Cruise Line (@CarnivalCruise) February 14, 2013
They also confirmed a passenger named Megan Clemons-Foxall was removed from the ship Wednesday evening due to a medical emergency.
A guest rprtd to infirmary last night w/pre-existing condition. Under an abundance of caution, they were disembarked by the US Coast Guard.
— Carnival Cruise Line (@CarnivalCruise) February 14, 2013
While most are upset and impatient about getting back to land, some passengers are simply glad to be safe.
Cannot emphasize how great #CarnivalTriumph crew has been throughout! We were blessed to have a balcony - could have been MUCH worse! #fb
— Bethany Fasnacht (@squaredonut) February 14, 2013
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