4,500 Carnival Cruise Passengers Stranded
They thought they'd be eating fine cuisine. Instead, they were reportedly airlifted in Spam (although later reports said the passengers were never served the canned meat). The 4,500 passengers aboard a Carnival Cruise ship were stranded for days 200 miles (320 km) off the coast of San Diego after a fire in the engine room left those on board without electricity, refrigeration, hot water or air-conditioning. As the days dragged on, an aircraft carrier was dispatched to aid in the rescue as national media zeroed in on the story. The passengers seemed to take it all in stride, playing cards and singing while waiting for their next meal of canned crabmeat. After three days, the cruise liner was finally pulled to shore by tugboats, where it was met by a crowd of cheering Californians.