Victoria, Seychelles Hot and tired passengers disembarking from a disabled cruise ship yesterday in the Seychelles said they had prepared to abandon ship when fire broke out in the engine room three days ago.
Life boats were even lowered, passengers said, but the more than 1,000 people wound up staying aboard the Costa Allegra, which then drifted in the Indian Ocean with no engine power, no air conditioning and no running water for showers or toilets.
"The toilets were running over, there was no electricity. It was very hot," said American Eleanor Bradwell.
Her husband Gordon Bradwell said he and his wife ate cold sandwiches for three days and moved their bedding onto the deck to escape the stifling heat after a fire left the Costa Allegra without power.
"It could have been worse than it was," said 72-year-old Bradwell. "It could have been disastrous... we're here, we're alive."
She said that the initial response to the alarm seemed to be disorganised but overall she and her husband felt the shipping line had handled the emergency well.
When the fire first broke out, passengers were directed to put on their life jackets and go to stations on the deck, they said.
Life boats were lowered but no one got in after the fire was contained.
Round of applause
Dozens of officials flocked to the port yesterday to help passengers ashore, a couple of whom applauded as the ship approached land.
The Seychelles Red Cross set up tents to assist any passengers needing medical help and embassy and consular officials were at the port to receive their citizens. Tour operators lined up dozens of buses to take passengers to either the airport or a Seychelles resort.
The Costa Allegra has been at sea with and without electricity since a fire broke out in the generator room on Monday, knocking out plumbing, showers, lights and air conditioning as the huge ship went adrift in tropical heat.
The cause of the fire is unknown. A French fishing vessel towed the cruise ship to the Seychelles.
US Consular Agent Travis Jensen said he was there to help ensure the health and safety of Americans onboard.
"We haven't been in contact with the ship because they were on battery power," he said.
"No emergency evacuations have been reported."
Travel agents eager to help passengers ashore waited alongside diplomats and dozens of journalists.
"The focus of the operation is to get them a warm meal and a shower," said Guillaume Albert, head of Creole Travel Service.
"I think the happy ending is the people coming off the boat."
