Feb 15, 2013 1 min read

We have experienced typical February weather this week – nothing insufferable but enough to persuade some of us to head south for a break, or at least to think about how nice it would be to do so. But even a raging blizzard or a power-cutting ice storm would be a better prospect that being stuck on a cruise liner in the Gulf of Mexico, as happened to more than 3,000 passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph.

An engine room fire knocked out power and crippled the water and plumbing systems. The four-day cruise became longer with the ship adrift and then under a slow tow to Alabama. Food ran so short that the menu was reduced to onion sandwiches. With only five working toilets, passengers were issued plastic bags in which to deposit their waste. With stabilizers disabled, many became seasick.

Instead of fun in the sun, these travelers experienced a slow voyage to hell.

On balance, being stuck at home in Western Pennsylvania and dealing with another round of “wintry mix” doesn’t seem so bad.