Cruise ship passengers reach land

Get ready for an onslaught of accounts about what it was like being stuck at sea without power - and for a time, working toilets. On a slow news day (Obama overseas, Congress still in recess, government offices closed for Veterans Day) this will be the top story. From NBC Los Angeles:

"We're hanging in there," said passenger Debra Hurley early Thursday. "For the most part, people seem like they're trying to keep their spirits up. There have been a few angry outbursts -- people grabbing for food when it came out. The worst thing is we're not really able to dispose of garbage."

Even under normal conditions, the disembarking of a cruise ship can take hours - and this is hardly normal. From the LAT:

Paul Patrick, a sales manager from Riverside, was waiting for his newlywed daughter Sabrina and her husband, Jeff Klinge. Patrick had bought them the cruise as a wedding present. Like other friends and relatives, he'd maintained contact by cellphone. "They're hungry, very hungry and very eager to get off this ship," Patrick said. "You can't ruin a honeymoon, but this came close." He added: "My son-in-law wishes he'd brought his fishing pole. What else can you do four days on the sea?"