Mechanical problems keep passengers on board cruise ship in New York port

Passengers were delayed in leaving The Big Red Boat II after it arrived in New York

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Police and Coast Guard officials investigated reports on Saturday that hundreds of passengers aboard the cruise ship Big Red Boat II were stuck inside the vessel at a New York dock with no power or clean water.

The delay was caused by malfunctioning elevators -- used to transport luggage -- at the dockside, said a spokeswoman for Premier Cruise Lines, the Florida-based parent company, on Saturday evening.

The ship has now left New York on another cruise, after the original passengers were eventually able to set foot on dry land.

"We've had some ups and downs with it, but we're trying real hard," spokeswoman Teresa Hall told CNN.

Earlier, Christine Klampert, a passenger who said she was calling on her cellular phone because passengers were barred from using the ship's telephones, told CNN the cruise had been plagued with problems since last Sunday night, one day after the ship began its seven-day cruise.

"We lost lights, power, air conditioning," she said. "I'm traveling with a little baby and I had to wash his bottle out with rusty water."

Hall said that air conditioning had been lost for 24 hours when a generator failed and that the ship's plumbing was also affected for roughly one hour. The problem caused the ship to miss its scheduled stop in St. John's, Newfoundland, because the vessel stayed overnight in Boston while the problem was corrected.

Hall said passsengers were given free tickets for another cruise and company officials waived the $35 port charge for the missed stop.

"This ship has been tough," she said. "We've had a few mechanical issues with it."

Hall said the company chartered this particular ship.

Klampert described conditions inside as sweltering heat in the cabins and "terrible food." She said that ship officials had made no announcements to explain problems.

"There have been nothing but problems the entire cruise," she said. "I'm livid. They said we would all get a free cruise, but I don't want a free cruise. I want my money back."

The Big Red Boat II sails from New York City to Canada, with stops in Boston; Newport, Rhode Island; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and St. John's. The ship can carry as many as 1,500 passengers, who pay between $800 and $2,000 each.

The New York City Police Department said officers were responding to reports of "passengers in distress" on the ship, but they had no other information.

The U.S. Coast Guard in New York was investigating the matter, said spokesman Brandon Brewer.

"If there was some kind of problem with any ship that came into port, someone would go on board the ship even before it gets into harbor," Brewer said.

"We would send Coast Guard investigators on the ship if we knew about it."

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New York City Police Department
United States Coast Guard
Premier Cruise Lines
 • Big Red Boat

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