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    Officially ashore

    More horror stories: Carnival Triumph passengers detail tense times on the cruise from hell

    Tyler Rudick
    Feb 15, 2013 | 3:37 pm

    After four nights of sleeping on a lounge chair next to an empty pool, Jayme Lamm is finally back home.

     

    As one of 4,000 souls stranded on the Carnival Triumph since an onboard fire destroyed the ship's power system, the Blonde Side blogger and CultureMap contributor says she was one of the lucky ones Thursday night when the boat limped into Mobile, Ala.

     

    "When the boat finally landed in Mobile, there was media everywhere. I was with a bunch of friends for a bachelor party and NBC asked us to do an interview. Then they offered to drive us back to Houston."

     

     

    "The 36 hours were the hardest," Lamm explains. "All of a sudden, we had no electricity and no toilets. We received no information or a timetable." 

     
     

    On the seven-hour drive home, she recalls seeing at least two broken-down charter buses filled with Triumph guests — a final reminder of a week Lamm describes as equal parts frustrating, nerve-wracking and dull.

     

    "Let me tell you, cabin fever is totally real," she laughs.

     

    "I tried to sleep as much as possible. But sometimes you'd wake up and just want to jump overboard. Yesterday, this little boy came up to me and tried to quiz me on multiplication tables. You know kids are bored, when they're doing math for fun."

     

    But as mundane as life aboard the cruise liner became, the first two days adrift were tense for passengers, many of whom donned life vests after the Sunday morning fire scare.

     

    "The first 36 hours were the hardest," Lamm explains. "All of a sudden, we had no electricity and no toilets. We received no information or a timetable. They drained the pool, closed the bars and casinos and never even told us where we were. We had no idea that ships were coming to drop off supplies."

     

    When the U.S. Coast Guard surrounded the cruise ship with boats to provide security, rumors started flying about pirates and an onboard gunman.

     

     Bad conditions get worse . . . and then suddenly better

     

    CultureMap spoke with passenger John Politi via cell phone from the ship as it was pulled into Mobile Bay on Thursday. He recalled that conditions quickly devolved when the Triumph began to "list," nautical speak for when a vessel tilts to one side.

     

    "With the ship leaning like that, the sewage started coming up through the sinks, showers and toilets. Then the sewage started pouring down the walls of the cabins."

     
     

    "With the ship leaning like that, the sewage started coming up through the sinks, showers and toilets." 

     
     

    Politi says the onboard bathroom situation — which included less than two dozen working public restrooms — was so horrendous that by the end of the week that he had little interest in eating. In the end, the loss of appetite helped him avoid waiting in line for three hours to get a meager sandwich.

     

    On Thursday, when Coast Guard officers came aboard to assist with customs, Jayme Lamm says that conditions almost instantly improved.

     

    "Suddenly, the chefs were all wearing matching hats and serving us lobster. All the toilets were emptied out in the cabins and the restrooms were finally cleaned. The tents people made on deck were all removed."

     

    As for the free cruise Carnival is offering this week's Triumph guests, both Lamm and Politi are deciding to take a pass.

     

     Click through the slideshow above for Lamm's pics from the ship. Her NBC interview is expected to air Friday at 9 p.m. on Rock Center with Brian Williams.

    Jayme Lamm on Facebook: "This is where we slept for three nights."

    Carnival Triumph, this is where we slept for three nights
      
    Photo by Jayme Lamm The Blonde Side/Facebook
    Jayme Lamm on Facebook: "This is where we slept for three nights."
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    news/travel

    2025 world's best awards

    6 Houston hotels ranked with the best in the world by Travel + Leisure

    Amber Heckler
    Jul 8, 2025 | 2:30 pm
    The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
    Photo courtesy of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
    The Houstonian is back on top as the best resort in Texas.

    Several renowned Houston hotels and resorts were just declared the best in the world by Travel + Leisure readers, according to the publication's annual World's Best Awards.

    The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa was honored as the No. 1 best resort in Texas, while the prestigious Post Oak Hotel ranked as the No. 7 best hotel in the nation. Among T+L's list of the 15 best hotels in Texas, four more distinguished Houston properties made the cut.

    Every year, Travel + Leisure surveys its readers to determine the ultimate travel experiences around the world, which include the top hotels, resorts, travel destinations, and more. The 2025 survey had more than 180,000 responses from T+L readers with over 657,000 votes across 8,700 accommodations, cruise lines, and other properties.

    The Houstonian Hotel reclaimed the top spot for 2025 after previously slipping into No. 4 in 2024. The publication celebrated this "serene sanctuary" for its numerous sports and fitness activities, plus its rejuvenating 26,500-square-foot spa, pool, and jacuzzi. The resort's location next to Memorial Park also provides guests with the feeling that they've escaped the hustle and bustle of the city.

     The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa “The staff treats you like you are a long-awaited family member," said a T+L reader.Photo courtesy of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa

    "Resort guests receive complimentary access to the fitness club, which has dedicated spaces for a myriad of sports, including nine tennis courts, a shaded jogging trail, an indoor track, and a lap pool," the report said. "On top of the unbeatable facilities and location, the Houstonian’s memorable hospitality had our voters eager for repeat visits."

    In a press release, general manager Steve Fronterhouse said the entire Houstonian team was honored to receive the worldwide recognition.

    "To be named the best resort in Texas by the discerning readers of Travel + Leisure is not just a reflection of our 27 acres and amenities; it’s recognition of the Southern hospitality and warmth our staff delivers every day," he said. "We are grateful to all of our guests who continue to make The Houstonian their home away from home.”

    The full list of best Texas resorts, in order, are:

    • The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston
    • Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa, Frisco
    • JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio
    • Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, Austin
    • Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine
    Best hotels in the U.S.
    In addition to being ranked among the top 10 best hotels in the U.S., The Post Oak Hotel was also hailed as the No. 1 best hotel in Houston. The hotel succeeds at providing guests with a flawless level of service and accommodations, while its on-site restaurants and bars add to the overall opulence of the property's amenities.

    "And naturally, there's a world-class spa on site and a Rolls‑Royce showroom in case you need to pick up a new ride," the report said.

     The Post Oak Hotel Stay in style at The Post Oak Hotel.  Photo courtesy of The Post Oak Hotel  

    A T+L reader said The Spa at The Post Oak Hotel is "a destination in itself" and noted that guests could still have a memorable experience in Houston even if they never step foot off the 700,000-square-foot premises. But if guests did choose to explore everything the city has to offer, the hotel provides an over-the-top travel method.

    "There is a rooftop helipad so that you don't even have to sit in Houston traffic if you don't want to," the reader said.

    The full list of Houston winning hotels, in order, are:

    • No. 1 – The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
    • No. 2 – Hotel ZaZa
    • No. 3 – Four Seasons Hotel Houston
    • No. 4 – JW Marriott Houston Downtown
    • No. 5 – Hilton Americas-Housto

    Other Texas awards
    San Antonio's Hotel Emma and Fort Worth's Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection were the only two other Texas properties to earn acclaim in T+L's list of the "15 Best City Hotels in the U.S."

    San Antonio was also deemed one of the best U.S. travel destinations in 2025, ranking 12th out of 15 total cities.

    In a release, Travel + Leisure editor in chief Jacqui Gifford said the 2025 World's Best Awards "reflect a travel landscape in motion."

    "From a high-desert city in the American Southwest to a quiet Greek island, our readers are seeking depth, character, and a strong sense of place," Gifford said. "We're thrilled to honor the hotels, destinations, and travel companies that are delivering those transformative experiences."

    travel leisurehoustonhotelsresortstravelvacations
    news/travel
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