Chelmsford Couple Stuck On Carnival Cruise

CHELMSFORD (CBS) -- Last year the Guarnera family from Chelmsford was aboard the Carnival Cruise ship the Splendor.  Mr. and Mrs. Guarnera were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. 

This year Mom and Dad wanted to return without their three kids and they did. 

Their children are happy about that decision now, and Mr. Guarnera, a Revere firefighter, by phone explained what happened on their second day of the cruise.

"I was in bed and was woken by a half dozen big, big bangs and the whole ship moved. We were just floating with no electricity; no nothing we were dead in the water," he said. 

Shortly after realizing they were a ship adrift Joseph Guarnera saw a Coast Guard Cutter, then a U.S. Aircraft Carrier floating closes by. 

He says the ship staff told them they had lost all power and food supplies were being brought aboard by helicopter.  Instead of sumptuous buffets Guarnera says the staff was offering up frozen crab meat, pop tarts and spam. 

As for tempers from passengers Guarnera said for the most part everyone was well behaved. "Everybody was pretty good, but waiting in line for two hours for cheese sandwiches that got nasty and got people on edge." 

The Splendor was hauled for the last couple days back to port and Thursday night Mr. & Mrs. Guarnera are in a hotel room awaiting their return to Chelmsford.

Mr. Guarnera says he's had two things he's wanted for days, "I just had my hamburger and a nice hot shower. So I'm okay."