Ships are ran by engines, everything is ran by some sort of mechanical machine.. They do have things break down. Out on the river I have been on a boats that lost its steering, had a generator go out, had a clutch burn up.. Things happen and there is no preventing it...not all at one time thank God! My bet is their main control panel went out, probably what was on fire too..

I would have a big problem having only spam and pop tarts to eat.. EUCK! I'd have been in that galley looking for something else, even if I had to eat it cold! I would have been thrilled with peanutbutter and jelly.. I am like a kid when it comes to that! LOVE it, eat it often! (They'de probably had to make me one before that cruise was over, even it they hadn't had that fire.. LOL!)