MOBILE, Ala.— The disabled Carnival Triumph finally docked and the troupe from Seabrook was ready to celebrate on dry land.

Dressed in their white souvenir robes, they cracked open bottles of brew, nice and cold, and began drinking in the parking lot near the port where Triumph arrived late Thursday, three days overdue and miles away from its intended return to Galveston.

Without power, the result of a fire on Sunday, the cruise became less than pleasurable.

Karen Zapletal said the 16 from Seabrook tried to make the best of it.

"We found the best of a bad situation," said Zapletal.

They shared suites on the ship's seventh level and had everything they needed, she said, but power.

She and others thanked the crew for its work during the ordeal, when some passengers became irate.

"I feel sorry for the crew," Zapletal said. "They had a lot to deal with."

Experienced cruise travelers, the group has taken a trip for the last four years.

All but one has been on the Triumph. Some are doubtful they will return to the vessel, and think its days are numbered.

"It needs to retire," said 72-year-old Wanda Embrey.

"They'll probably renovate it and put it back out ... under a different name," said 50-year-old April Serafin, Embrey's daughter. "It won't go out as Triumph again."

After leaving Triumph, the 16 headed to New Orleans. Friends, the ones who brought the beer, will drive them there.

They'll continue with the purpose of the cruise - a big birthday party. Each was born in either January or February.

For Zapletal, it was the big 50.

"It's a birthday I'll never forget," she said.