Battered ship in safe harbour today

A Royal Carribbean cruise ship reaches Malta this morning after being battered by rough seas in the Eastern Mediterranean over the past few days.

Passengers on board the Brilliance of the Seas spoke of having gone through a “nightmare” and a few suffered slight injuries.

The ship, carrying more than 1,000 passengers, mostly American, also suffered some damage. She was said to have encountered 30-foot waves and hurricane force winds.

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

American passenger Evelyn Hoffa told The Early Show on CBS 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.

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 she is now coming here before going to Egypt.