12 Carnival Triumph cruises canceled

As the Carnival Triumph limped towards Mobile, Ala., Wednesday, Carnival Cruises announced the cancellation of all Triumph cruises for the next two months.The company said people who have booked cruises through April 13 will get full refunds and discounts on a future cruise with Carnival. They will also be reimbursed for non-refundable travel to and from port and fees for shore excursions and other extras. The Carnival Triumph was disabled Sunday by a fire in the engine room. The ship was left without electricity and passengers have endured squalid conditions, including no running water.The vessel, assisted by tugboats, was expected to arrive in Mobile on Thursday. Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines, said passengers on the Triumph will get $500 on top of full refunds of their tickets. They will also be reimbursed for many shipboard purchases and for travel expenses and will get credit for a future cruise equal to the price of their ticket. Carnival has also booked 1,500 hotel rooms in New Orleans. Passengers will have a choice between going by bus to Houston or Galveston, Texas, from Mobile or spending a night in New Orleans before traveling home the next day on chartered planes.There were 3,143 passengers on board the ill-fated cruise, the company said.