
One passenger told the Daily Telegraph: “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. Three days ago we had been given a lecture on what to do if a pirate ship bears down on use.”
As the ship outran the pirates, passengers returned to their dinners.
A Saga spokesman told Travelmole: “A small boat appeared on the long range radar which looked supicious. The vessel was shadowing Spirit so we put in place well-rehearsed procedures and alerted the naval authorities. Dinner was interrupted and the whole episode lasted about 53 minutes. Now people have something to talk about on their postcards. It was a very British experience."