A couple from Loving, N.M., arrived in El Paso after being stranded at sea on the Carnival cruise ship Triumph after the ship's engine caught fire.

"We held up really good over there, you know, we were helping out to give our new family their space, in our room. And we talked to our kids while we were over there," said Andrea Ramirez.

The family had never been on a cruise ship before. However, they don't feel as the experience was a "nightmare" like many of the 4,000 passengers are reporting.

"We were the upper decks, so we were the more fortunate ones, and that's why our journey was a little easier than some of the others," said Daniel Ramirez.

However, the Ramirez family did witness the deplorable conditions others had to endure.

Many reported seeing overflowing toilets in their rooms, with feces and urine on the floor.

"We shared our cabin with them. During the day we tried to keep out of there so that they could stay in there. They couldn't take her any where because she would get a little panicky around the crowds," said Daniel Ramirez of a family with a special needs child, who were staying in a room nearby. "She slept in the hallway one night, and we're like, 'No,' so that next night they took advantage, and we just became a little family there."