this is the story!"
A well-known magician who has made a name for himself in Millville , MD is one of 4,000 passengers stranded on the Carnival Splendor cruise ship that lost power Monday off the coast of California.
A small fire in the engine compartment caused the electrical loss just one day after the ship launched.
"I saw the smoke outside of our window and I said, 'This is serious,' " said Rich Bloch, owner of the Dickens Parlour Theatre and a magician for more than 60 years. "We didn't realize we'd be stranded in the middle of the ocean."
The ship, which was supposed to travel from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera and back, is Carnival's annual Magic Cruise, where professional magicians gather to enjoy a week of enchantment.
"I think it's just been a huge inconvenience and disappointment to passengers," said Cheryl Debois, Bloch's friend and theater manager. "Thank goodness the fire wasn't bad and it wasn't an actual rescue or a real tragedy."
Tug boats that have been towing the ship since Tuesday are expected to arrive in San Diego this afternoon.
Despite the unfortunate situation, Bloch said passengers have been positive and upbeat.
"I don't think anyone was ever seriously concerned," he said. "We all knew the Navy and the Coast Guard were coming and we were assured that the ship hadn't been fundamentally damaged, it was just without power."
On Tuesday, the Navy airlifted thousands of pounds of food to the passengers.
Without power, the restrooms on the 952-foot boat were out of commission for some time, Bloch said.
"People will not only be traumatized, but ... there are sanitary conditions and illnesses that may plague them," Debois said.
Bloch said other inconveniences included the loss of heating and air conditioning, temporary phone loss, cold food and the cancellation of performances.
To keep busy, passengers have been entertaining themselves with cards, games and sleep.
"There's no lighting available other than minor emergency lights so it's a very quiet atmosphere, particularly at night because everything goes dark," Bloch said.
Bloch has been working and performing on cruises for the past 15 years, so he wasn't hesitant at all when he boarded Carnival's ship.
But Debois said this incident could be distressing for others.
"For a lot of people, this might be their first cruise or their first vacation," she said. "That is probably disheartening to them."
Passengers will receive a full refund from Carnival, along with free transportation home and an offer for a free cruise.
Bloch is looking forward to stepping foot on dry land.
"I won't mind having a hot cup of coffee and hot shower (when we get back)," he said.
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