Cruise from hell seen as adventure

ROOKIE sailor Ksenia Ptilidi will long remember her first Pacific cruise not as the "holiday from hell" described by fellow passengers but as a bigger thrill ride than any theme park could provide.
The young Masterton travel agent was one of 1200 passengers on the stricken Pacific Star, the cruise liner forced to abandon an eight-night cruise when hit by a huge storm and eventually had to limp back to Auckland.
As others were hunkered down in their bunks being dreadfully seasick and cursing their decision to seek dream holidays under the Pacific sun, Ksenia was no landlubber lying down below.
Instead she continued to tuck into fine foods, take advantage of drink vouchers and even seek out the on-board entertainment.
Speaking from an Auckland hotel yesterday, in transit to returning to Masterton and her job at Holiday Shoppe, Ksenia said she was more homesick for her partner than seasick.
"I was never frightened, it just felt like a real good theme ride."
The Pacific Star left Auckland with at least four passengers from Wairarapa aboard on Tuesday last week despite warnings from the Metservice that things could get rough.
It was bound for Vanuatu but was hit by gale-force winds and swells of up to 10m that tossed the huge vessel around like a cork.
Windows were smashed, the ship's satellite equipment was broken and the hull damaged under the waterline.
Passengers spoke of seeking elderly travellers banging their heads and having them split open, of toilets flooded with sewage and lifts out of order between decks.
For Ksenia the cruise was an education in more ways than one, it was designed to help her in her work and was her first real time at sea.
"I felt a bit dodgy about going as I had no idea if I would get sick at sea anyway.
"I took Sealegs before going aboard" and much later when things "got a bit rocky" she took another two.
After the Pacific Star had fought its way to Vanuatu the decision was made to cancel the rest of the cruise because of the damage to the ship and to head back to New Zealand.
Ksenia said despite the drama of the storm-lashed voyage the trip had "exceeded my expectations", and she wasn't saying that because she was involved in selling travel.
"I don't think it was a holiday from hell & it was the adventure of a lifetime."
She said the storm was purely an act of God and despite the Metservice warnings the captain could not have predicted the storm would be so intense.
"He made the best decision in cancelling the rest of the trip because he had to slow down so much that too much time was lost for us to have done the whole cruise anyway, and he had to think of the safety of his passengers."
Ksenia said not only had she come through the trip completely unscathed, she had been able to enjoy her food and complimentary drinks throughout.
"The captain and crew were wonderful.
"They even sheltered behind Great Barrier Island so we could enjoy our dinner."
About the only lingering affect from the trip for Ksenia was after being deposited back on dry land in Auckland, motion sickness.
"Even now it feel like I am still onboard, things are rocking a bit."
Her boss Karl Taucher said from what he had heard Ksenia had "made the most of every moment".
"All reports are that she has eaten well, and dealt easily with what was a freak situation."
The other Wairarapa passengers aboard the Pacific Star could not be contacted as P&O; had accommodated all of those needing a place to stay in Auckland at dozens of different venues.
It is thought the other Wairarapa people were a husband and wife, and a Masterton man who took the trip as a birthday present.