Noblesville teen recounts cruise ship nightmare

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - One of the passengers on board the doomed Carnival Cruise Line ship is a teenager from Noblesville.

Brianna Adkins, 18, was met by her relieved parents in Mobile, Ala., Thursday after the ship docked.

She and other passengers recounted the conditions they encountered for the previous five days after an engine room fire cut the ship's power.     

Passengers said human waste streamed in the halls and down walls after toilets failed.

They said those smells, combined with spoiling food and no air conditioning, made for an even longer five days stranded at sea.

As soon as they were within cell range, frustrated passengers posted pictures online showing makeshift bedrooms and what appeared to be makeshift toilets, which were nothing more than buckets or plastic bags in some cases.

Passengers also reported three hour lines for food, which at times, they said, consisted of nothing more than candy and ketchup squirted on buns.

CNN caught up with Adkins and her parents after their reunion.

“I just missed them so much, you have no idea,” Brianna said. “Just to be with them, just to let them know that I'm safe is just so much better than not having any contact at all."

"I wanted to be there for her, be taking care of her as a dad's supposed to do, and I wasn't able to do that,” her father, Rusty, said. “So, when I was able to see her, my goodness, what a great feeling. It was very, very awesome."

Passengers reported that, as soon as the cruise ship learned the coast guard would be coming aboard, the Carnival crew rushed cleaned things up.

Carnival is offering to refund tickets and pay any transportation expenses. The company is also offering vouchers for another cruise.

It’s unclear at this point whether passengers will take legal action.