Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas said they heard "big explosions" after a fire broke out early Monday morning, charring the stern of the ship and forcing an early end to the cruise.
Royal Caribbean International said it is arranging flights home from the dock in Freeport, Bahamas, for all 2,224 guests, who could start flying back home as early as today. Passengers will receive a full refund of their fare and a certificate for a future cruise.
Royal Caribbean said the fire was discovered at 2:50 a.m. ET Monday on the mooring area on deck three of its 11 decks. The ship was at sea at the time but made it to dock under its own propulsion.
Passenger Luke Sluscher, 20, was awakened by the commotion. When he stepped outside his room, he "heard crew yelling mayday, mayday, as they ran to put out the fire."
The cruise line said the fire was extinguished and the affected area was cordoned off. Guests were allowed to return to their staterooms, the company said, at 7:15 a.m. ET. No injuries were reported. The ship docked a few hours later.
After assessing the damage, which gutted the rear of the ship on at least one deck, RCI officials decided to end the cruise in Freeport to make repairs. It's not clear when the ship will be able to serve passengers again. The May 31 cruise out of Baltimore has been cancelled.
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Dan McTigue was one of the many frightened passengers hustling to muster stations near lifeboats during the ordeal.
"I heard these big explosions and saw the fire jump out of the ship. We couldn't get to the muster station because it was on fire," McTigue said.
When asked about reports of explosions, an RCI spokesperson said, "The cause of the fire is still under investigation. We are working closely with the various agencies that are looking into it."
Photos show a substantial area of the stern burned on several decks and the fire destroyed a dining area and a bar.
The ship's crew tried to stop passengers from taking pictures of the fire and chaos.
Carrie McTigue told ABC News that "even when people put their cameras up to photograph the sunrise, they were told, 'no photos.'"
The Grandeur of the Seas, which left Baltimore on Friday, never lost power. It had been planned to be a seven-night cruise. Royal Caribbean told ABC News that about 20 people "took ill." Medical staff reported two guests were treated after fainting, with one report of high blood pressure and another of cramps.
The crew was able to control the fire but not passengers' fear as they waited for more than four hours to be given the all clear.
"I started crying. I thought we were going to die…," said McTigue's granddaughter, Sophia.
Hours after the ship reached the Bahamas, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Adam Goldstein arrived on the island to meet with guests and crew.
Mark J. Ormesher, a native of England, who lives in Manassas, Va., told The Associated Press he and his girlfriend smelled acrid smoke as they went to their muster station. The crew quickly provided instructions.
"This encouraged calm amongst the passengers," he told the AP. Passengers were required to remain at their stations for four hours, he said, and the captain "provided us as much information as we needed to stay safe."