So what would you have likely taken on board that would have helped when this emergency occurred at sea?

What could/should you reasonably take on board -- knowing the odds of this occurring on your cruise are very low?

No power. No refrigeration. 4500 passengers. Many (most?) rooms with no windows to bring in light. Toilets malfunctioning (most apparently are working -- thank goodness).

Waiting for helicopters to drop Spam and Pop-Tarts....

The pitch-black dark room (and corridors?) would get to me.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101111/ap_on_bi_ge/us_cruise_ship_fire


Lines for cold food stretch for hours. Navy helicopters flew in Spam, Pop Tarts and canned crab meat and other goods for the passengers and crew...

...Gina Calzada, 43, of Henderson, Nev., said her diabetic sister, Vicky Alvarez, called her Wednesday on her cell phone and started sobbing. She said she has not been able to take her insulin for her diabetes because she is not eating enough.

She told Calzada all that she had eaten was some bread, cucumbers and lettuce.

"She said it stinks of rotten food and smoke," Calzada said. "It's dark, and it's cold.'"

Alvarez's husband said that when he went looking for food for his wife, a crew member told him to give her a Tic-Tac.

Carnival officials said they could not confirm Alvarez's report.