The Spirit of Adventure, a British cruise ship, was sailing across the Indian Ocean, when a small speed boat approached the 9,000grt ship. The 350 passengers were told to hide below decks by the ships captain during their formal black-tie dinner.
Passenger Susie Browne, said:
"It was a really terrifying ordeal. We were eating dinner and then ordered below deck with our heads bowed. The captain sped up and tried to outrun the pirates. They told us to sit on the floor and the doors were barricaded. We were told they had spotted pirates two miles behind us. We were told to keep our heads down in case they shot us through the windows."
In the end the ship was able to out run the pirates and no harm was done, other than a little delay in the meal.