Supplies airlifted to stranded Carnival cruise ship

SAN DIEGO - The nearly 4,500 passengers and crew of the Carnival Splendor have no air-conditioning or hot water. They are low on food. And for at least another 24 hours, they have no way out.

What began as a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera stopped around sunrise when an engine room fire cut power to the 952-foot vessel and set it adrift off Mexico's Pacific coast.

No one was hurt and, by yesterday, U.S. Navy helicopters were ferrying 70,000 pounds of supplies to the stricken ship.

The first of several Mexican tugboats, meanwhile, reached the vessel in the afternoon to begin towing it to port. It is to be towed either to San Diego or to Ensenada, Mexico, about 50 miles south of the U.S. border. The Splendor could reach port late today.

The Splendor, which left from Long Beach, Calif., on Sunday, was 200 miles south of San Diego at the time of the engine fire, according to Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines. It began drifting about 55 miles off shore.

The 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew members were not hurt and the fire in the generator's compartment was put out, but the ship had no air-conditioning, hot water, cell phone or Internet service. A Carnival spokeswoman said the ship's command is able to communicate with outsiders on a backup system.

Auxiliary power allowed for toilets and cold running water. The company said bottled water and cold food were provided.