Thousands of cruise passengers were stranded in St. Thomas Monday after a fire started in a ship's engine room.
Vacationers on the Carnival Liberty left Sunday from San Juan with 3,346 guests and 1,150 crew members on board, KTRK reported.
The fire started during the first stop of a seven-day cruise.
Passengers were barred from the ship, preventing access to their luggage and in some cases their medications, KTRK reported.
The fire was put out on the 10-year-old vessel by it's automated suppression system.
By late Monday, passengers were allowed back on the ship and were using all of the ship's services as if it were a floating hotel.
Passengers were given the option to spend the day ashore in St. Thomas, with the cruise line organizing shuttles to take them around the island, USA Today reported.
Each passenger also received $150 on-board credit.
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