It was a cruise to remember but one most, if not all, of the passengers would rather forget.
The nightmare of the Carnival Triumph has ended but the horrific stories about what the passengers experienced as the disabled ship drifted at sea -- are simply incredible.
One of those passengers is back home in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan.
Jonathan Rosenberg of Washington Heights is finally back home. While some called the cruise "pure hell", he has a different perspective.
Rosenberg and his girlfriend were among the 4,200 passengers and crew aboard the Carnival Triumph. The 14-story ship lost power after a fire broke out.
"I looked outside and there was a man yelling ‘get out, there's smoke -- please get your life jackets, get upstairs.'"
For five days, the powerless shipped limped towards land. Passengers were forced to sleep on the upper deck in a makeshift tent like city because the smell was so bad.
"There was definitely some sewage. The floor was wet and not knowing what it was."
Despite the sewage, Jonathan made new friends and won a trivia contest. Maybe it's his New Yorker nature or his love of nature, but Jonathan says as bad as some people say the cruise was -- he likened it to camping.
"It could have been so much worse."
Carnival Cruise Lines will issue a full refund, and offer a $500 credit for another cruise to all of the passengers.
Friday, May 17 2013 5:54 PM EDT2013-05-17 21:54:45 GMT
The big game will be played in New Jersey but the big party will be in New York City. Organizers call it "Super Bowl Boulevard."
The big game will be played in New Jersey but the big party will be in New York City. Organizers call it "Super Bowl Boulevard": it will stretch from 44th Street on Broadway all the way to 34th Street.
Friday, May 17 2013 8:21 AM EDT2013-05-17 12:21:42 GMT
A new photo exhibit at an art gallery in Chelsea is drawing the ire of residents who are the artist's subjects, unknowingly.
A new photo exhibit at an art gallery in Chelsea is drawing the ire of residents who are the artist's subjects, unknowingly. The artist, Arne Svenson, is reportedly taking the photos through their TriBeCa building windows. In some photos, the residents are bending over, sleeping and cleaning.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:06 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:06:34 GMT
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:36 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:36:00 GMT
A water taxi struck a dock at Pier A and Battery Park Place in Manhattan on Thursday, according to FDNY officials. Two people suffered minor injuries. They refused medical attention.
A water taxi struck a dock at Pier A and Battery Park Place in Manhattan on Thursday, according to FDNY officials. Two people suffered minor injuries. They refused medical attention.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:17 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:17:42 GMT
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City.
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City. In a report released Thursday, dozens of daycares cited by the Dept. of Health for serious and critical health code violations since 2010, have not fixed the problems and continue to operate without penalty.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-16 03:08:35 GMT
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
