Some ready for another cruise even after Carnival voyage - CNN

Passenger: Like 'Gilligan's Island'Officials from Panama are investigating the fire on the cruise shipSome passengers said they ate mayonnaise sandwichesU.S. Coast Guard also part of the investigationFor more details visit CNN affiliate KUSA.

San Diego, California (CNN) -- Even though they were stuck without air conditioning, hot showers and decent meals, at least four passengers who made it off a crippled Carnival Cruise Lines ship said Friday that they would go on a cruise again.

"I'm so thankful that we're all alive," Leticia Lewis said on CNN's "American Morning." "I don't wish this experience on anyone. It wasn't a wonderful event. But I would take another one."

Amber Haslerud, another passenger, said her voyage on the ill-fated Carnival Cruise ship Splendor was her first cruise, and she would also go on another one.

"I definitely would give it another go and try to get the experience I should have had this time," said Haslerud. "I deserve it after all that we went through this week."

Natalie Martinez and Angela Evans said they would also go on another cruise, but they would bring a survival kit with flashlights, chocolate and air freshener.

And "I think we would wait a year," Martinez added..

The cruise ship lost power earlier this week after a fire started in the engine room of the vessel. Some 3,300 passengers left the ship Thursday after a three-day ordeal.

Some passengers left the boat with horror stories.

"It was absolutely deplorable," Marquis Horace said. At one point, the ship ran out of food, he said, and "they started making mayo sandwiches."

Maurice Harold and his wife, Cynthia Harold, not only had to endure being adrift, they had to do so without some of their own clothes, medicines and other items lost when their luggage went into the water while being loaded onto the ship.

"It was pretty traumatic. It was a scary situation, said Cynthia Harold, who said she needs to use an oxygen machine while sleeping and was unable to after the ship lost power.

"I really haven't slept since I left Virginia Beach," she said.

The couple said they are considering a lawsuit, but it all depends on how Carnival compensates them.

The cruise line has said it plans to give customers who were aboard the Splendor a full refund, reimbursement for travel costs and a free cruise.

Others looked at the incident differently calling it an "adventure."

"A lot of things went wrong, but it was really fun," said one young passenger, Ryan Harlan, who was traveling with his parents. "We went to the Kids' Camp."

He said the Kids' Camp was, in fact, his favorite part, because he made some friends.

And the worst part? "Being stranded in the middle of the ocean," he said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday it was investigating the incident. But later in the day the safety board said officials from Panama would lead the investigation because that is the country the vessel is flagged under.

The U.S. Coast Guard will also be part of the investigation, the transportation board said.

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