SAN DIEGO (AP) - Carnival Cruise Lines says the first of several
tugboats has reached a ship stranded off the coast of Mexico and
has begun pulling it to San Diego.

Carnival says the first Mexican tugboat arrived at the Carnival
Splendor and its 4,500 passengers and crew on Tuesday afternoon.
More tugboats are en route.

The statement says initial plans were to tow the ship to the
Mexican coastal city of Ensenada, but it will now be taken to San
Diego, where it's expected to arrive late Thursday. If the ship
moves too slowly, it could still be sent to Ensenada.
 

The ship, which left Long Beach on Sunday, was 200 miles south
of San Diego when an engine room fire cut its power early Monday.