A Royal Carribbean cruise ship is on its way to Malta after having been battered by extraordinarily rough seas in the Eastern Mediterranean over the past few days.

The Brilliance of the Seas, carrying more than 1,000 passengers, mostly American, suffered some damage.

Passengers spoke of having gone through a 'nightmare'. A few suffered slight injuries.

The ship was said to have encountered 30 foot waves and hurricane force winds.

Syria, Lebanon and Egypt also reported having experienced the unusual storm.

The ship rolled violently as the waves dislodged furniture and toppled the ship's Christmas tree.

American passenger Evelyn Hoffa told CBS' The Early Show it was "horrifying" as the waves crashed above the ship's 10th floor windows. She said water was all over the passenger quarters as ice buckets and papers flew across cabins.

Another American on the ship, Lorraine Brewer, told "The Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith she woke up to "very rough" seas before being hurled back and forth in her cabin with her husband for about five minutes.

The Brilliance of the Seas was on a 12-day cruise from Spain to Italy, Greece and Egypt with Malta meant to be the last port of call, but it is now coming here before going to Egypt.

See

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIuJSFzwXCY

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