June 18th: The Fire Aboard the Royal Princess-- Part 4

Continuing with the story.

There were considerable announcements from the bridge, and, soon, quite a few from the captain. Finally, we were told that there had been a fire in the engine room, and that they were fairly sure it was contained (later even out), but it was still too hot to go into the engine room to be sure.

However, the life boats were to be run out, but not placed in the water, STRICTLY AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. This more than a little worried everyone. I was sure we weren't being told everything.

THE FUMES

When I first opened the stateroom door was when I smelled acrid fumes. We could smell them even more in the muster station which was four decks above the engine room. Since you couldn't open the windows in the dining area, the fumes continued to get worse, causing those with breathing problems, including my mother, to begin to have stress. They were allowed to go out onto the promenade deck (also on Deck 5) where fresh breezes were available. Mom, Vickie, and Graham went out. Vickie came back to say that Mom insisted that I join her.

There was a lot of complaining about those fumes in the muster area.

Fire and Fumes, Oh My!! --RoadDog