In fairness to the passengers I think the references to the Titanic were appropriate. I believe they were referencing the film, and it was dark with tables, chairs, furniture, crashing all around them, fearful enough that more than one person died of a heart attack.
Costa Cruise Lines has been useless to it's passengers, refusing to offer clean, dry clothes for the trip home, failing to return passports, stating the, "crew was well trained." A well trained captain does not leave his ship.