Milwaukee family eager to return home after Carnival cruise

Gene Alabnese talks about conditions on Carnival cruise

Gene Alabnese talks about conditions on Carnival cruise

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A relaxing cruise vacation turned into a nightmare for one Milwaukee family — involving days at sea without power, working toilets or enough food. On Friday morning, February 15th Gene Albnese spoke with FOX6 News about the experience.

"It was awful conditions. But despite all the issues the Carnival cruise took such great of us. We made great friends -- it's almost sad that we were leaving them," Albnese said.

Albnese tells FOX6 News the cruise started out wonderful, saying her family was "having a great time." However, the relaxing cruise vacation quickly turned into a nightmare early Sunday morning when a fire started in the ship’s engine room.

Albnese recalls the mayhem aboard the Carnival cruise. "It was a sight to remember. Elderly (people) were lying in the hallways on mattresses, unable to get up."

Gene Albnese, her daughter and her aunt are scheduled to arrive in Milwaukee around 1:20 p.m. Friday afternoon. Albanese says she is anxious to return home and play in snow. "I can't to see that white snow. I'm going to lay in it and make a snow angel," Albanese said.

Carnival is refunding passengers — giving them $500 and a voucher for another cruise. Albanese says she doesn’t know what she’ll be doing with that voucher — but says she is hesitant to step aboard another ship.