Irmo Couple Keeps Positive Attitude After Carnival Triumph

Irmo couple Trey and Kendall Love are enjoying the comforts of home after they had to spend five days on the disabled Carnival cruise ship Triumph.

The couple were among more than 4,000 people — passengers and crew included — that were stuck in an unimaginable situation in the Gulf of Mexico after a fire in the ship's engine room caused it to lose the ability to propel. 

"I told everyone as long as I’m not swimming, I’m not panicking yet," said Trey Love, owner of All American Imaging.

The two were celebrating Trey's 40th birthday with their friends from Texas. 

For the first couple of days of the trip, the couples enjoyed what Trey called a "hotel on water." 

The food.

The entertainment.

Relaxation. 

"I was taking everything in," Trey Love said of his first cruise. "We (could) do whatever we wanted."

Then around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 10, the ship's alarm interrupted their sleep.

"Alpha team ...!"

Those words rang through the ship.

The couple said they later learned "Alpha team" was a call for the fire crew.

The four-day cruise from Galveston, Texas to Mexico would soon turn into something they never imagined. 

After the fire

When passengers first arrived on the ship, they went over what passengers should do in case of an emergency. 

One of the worst things that could happen, Trey said they were told, would be a fire.

"When they said there was a fire in the engine room, I’m thinking 'that’s not a good thing.'"

The couple said it was hours before anyone knew what happened.

And, it would be days before the passengers were able to make it back to land. 

The ship started listing. They soon endured long lines for food and they had to use red bags when no working toilets were available.

Supplies had to be delivered. Passengers slept on the deck in what they called "tent city" to get away from the smell inside.

"It was just unsanitary," Kendall said. "I don’t know what they could have done without the power though."

Through it all, the Loves and their friends stayed positive.

"We made the best of it," said Kendall. "I think the only time I was really scared was before they got the fire out."

"It just seemed like it took them a long time to get help, but then I read about other ships this happened to and they all handle it in the same way. So I think there’s just no good way to get people off the boat."

Still, Trey said the crew did what they could to make the best out of the situation.

"I truly believe the people on the boat were just awesome," Trey said. "They really had super attitudes because they had to take care of all us and they were in the same boat, literally, as us."

"They didn’t have air conditioning, they didn’t have bathrooms to go to. On top of that they had to serve all of us first. They really need to be compensated by Carnival."

Back on land

When asked what helped them get through their time on the ship, Trey credits their faith in God and being with good friends.

"I think everyone got along pretty well. I think if we had been out there one more day, or if we received one more piece of bad information, it might have gotten a little stressful," he said.

"For the most part people were working really well together. I’m sure there were some people in worse conditions."

The Triumph was eventually towed into port in Mobile, Ala., several days after it was due to arrive back to land. 

After making a stop in New Orleans, the two finally made it back to Columbia where they were greeted by family, including their two children.

"We were just excited to see them," Trey said. "We had no idea that it became a big deal (in the media)."

Would the Loves book another cruise?

"I would do it again," Trey said. "Up until that point it was fun."

Kendall agreed, saying "I don’t know if it would keep us from going on one forever, but it does make you hesitant to go with that same cruise line."

Since the passengers have been home, a class action lawsuit has been filed in Florida and one of the passengers has published a book. 

Trey said the two didn't have plans to do any of that. 

The only negative toward Carnival, Trey said, would be if they knew the ship had problems beforehand and that it was unsafe to travel.

"Overall, they're paying for it," Trey said. 

Carnival officials said passengers will receive full refunds for the cruise and transportation expenses, a credit for a future cruise, reimbursement for shipboard purchases made during the trip (with a few exceptions) and $500 per person.