Updated: Thu Mar. 01 2012 09:46:13
CTVNews.ca Staff
Weary passengers disembarked from a crippled cruise ship Thursday in the Seychelles, three days after a fire stranded the vessel in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa.
The Costa Allegra and its more than 1,000 passengers and crew -- including 14 Canadians -- were towed by a French fishing vessel over the course of three days and nights to the Seychelles.
Though the passengers appeared hot and tired and many were in need of a shower and a hot meal, they arrived safe and with no major injuries and many appeared ready to put the ordeal behind them, said ABC's Jeffrey Kofman, reporting from the Seychelles.
When the fire first broke out on Monday, he said, passengers were told to board the life rafts and prepare to abandon ship.
However, the fire was quickly controlled and the order to abandon ship was cancelled.
"You have to understand this ship was off the coast of Africa, hundreds of miles off shore in waters where Somali pirates prey on ships," Kofman told CTV's Canada AM.
"So there was a lot at risk here, they were far from anywhere and they could easily have become victims so it came very close to being a much worse story."
The ship was without electricity, working toilets or air conditioning while it was being towed to the Seychelles, and passengers slept on the deck of the cruise liner rather than in their unlit cabins.
Eleanor Bradwell, an American, said the crew's initial response to the alarm seemed disorganized but overall she and her husband felt the emergency had been handled well.
"It could have been worse than it was," said Gordon Bradwell. "It could have been disastrous ... we're here, we're alive."
The couple, along with the other passengers, ate cold sandwiches for three days and moved their bedding onto the deck to escape the stifling heat in the cabins.
After they made landfall early Thursday, all passengers were offered either a plane ticket home or a vacation in the exclusive chain of islands.
About 375 of the passengers, who were in the early days of a month-long cruise when the fire broke out, opted for the vacation.
"The fact we have a carnival on, the weather is great, and the fact they want to continue their holidays is great for them and great for us," said Srdjana Janosevic, spokeswoman for the president of the Seychelles. "It means this potentially tragic situation has a happy ending."
The liner was carrying 413 crew members and 627 passengers, including 212 Italians, 31 Britons and eight Americans.
The Costa Allegra is owned by the same cruise line that owns the Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that ran aground and capsized off the coast of Italy six weeks ago, with 25 people confirmed dead and more still missing.
Both the Allegra and Concordia are operated by Costa Crociere SpA, which is owned by Florida-based Carnival.
Kofman said the company now has a major image problem to correct.
"One passenger from Athens, Ga., I asked her 'will you ever go on a cruise again?' She said 'absolutely I will go on a cruise again but never again with Costa.'"
The Seychelles Red Cross set up tents to assist any passengers needing medical help. Embassy and consular officials representing various countries were at the port to receive their citizens.
The cause of the fire is still not known.
Comments are now closed for this story
t chow
very poor vidio reception compare others
Sal -
Staycations - who will be the next super planner and get on-board with this idea????
Tim
Bad news for the cruise company. Good news for the law firms.
TheOhterLowellInBC
what was the cruise ship doing sailing off the coast of Somalia. Wasn't this the same cruise ship line as the one that sank off the coast of Italy.
David Marshall
The Costa Allegra is not a sister ship of the Costa Concordia but a much smaller and older vessel. The ship was formaly a Container carrier converted some years ago and must be coming to the end of her days.
cis in dublin shore ns
As a Marine Engineer all my life I have a single and very serious question what happened to the emergency generator it would have given them basic power and allow them to keep there main engines going sounds like these ships are not up to basic safety regulations
Steve-O
The Seychelles is a lovely place. Hope the passengers enjoy their stay there.
traveller
Glad to hear everything ended well for all involved. Really glad the pirates didn't board the ship. Hope all passengers will have a great vacation afterall ;-) Costa is in trouble, the world is watching and I'm sure they didn't need another problem with Costa Concordia still on everyones mind. Great organized island! Good for them!!
Willi
Well, if the Canadian Government was on hand to meet the Canadain travelers, the travellers would be told to check with some other organization. The Canadian Government would NOT be of much help to the stranded Canadians. NEVER expect the Consulate to help...Do it on your own, as that is what I have been told. Recent personal experience in Mexico
Bill S.
Where was the ship's Emergency generator????
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