Coast Guard to bring Triumph to Mobile

A Carnival Cruise Ship is slowly making its way to Mobile.  According to officials, an engine room fire over the weekend.

FOX10 News spoke to the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous that is escorting the ship into port, and a passenger who describes what it's like on board.

Ann Barlow describes it as a dream vacation turned nightmare. 

"The smells are, I can't even describe them. Our room is flooded. There is sewage, raw sewage; (it’s) pretty bad. When you walk in the hallways, you have to cover your face. We don't have any masks for breathing. It's disgusting. It's the worst thing ever. We're sleeping on foam mattresses. Our room is so horrible," said Barlow.

The incident left the ship running on back-up generators and needing to be towed by tug boats. The Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous is also escorting the ship to port.

"Sunday night the vessel drifted about 70 miles north. The tow is headed towards Mobile because that's the fastest port we can get to utilizing the currents and wind," said Commander Greg Magee.

The ship was originally going to be towed to Progreso, Mexico, but that changed when the currents did. Magee said he's been in constant contact with those operating the triumph.

"No problems so far. We did have one medical concern yesterday, and we facilitated transferring that person to another cruise ship to get ashore," said Magee.

Magee said in the best case scenario, the ship will reach Mobile Thursday afternoon into evening. He said worst case, it will be Friday.

"He knows I'm here if he needs any assistance. He won't hesitate to call," Magee said.

There are about 3,000 passengers onboard the ship, and more than 1,000 carnival crew members.

The cruise left from Galveston, Texas, and was supposed to go to Cozumel, Mexico. The ship is said to only be moving around 5 to 8 mph.