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Cruise Passengers Disembarking In NYC React To Catastrophe Off Italy

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork / AP) - Out at sea on an eastern Caribbean cruise it was hard to escape news of the catastrophe where a cruise ship ran aground off of Italy.

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"It was broadcast all over and, you know, everyone said "Oh my G-d," said passenger Mary Lou McGilligan of Valley Stream, who just got off the Norwegian Gem on Manhattan's West Side on Wednesday.

PHOTOS: Costa Concordia Runs Aground

But the crew of the Gem was reassuring and very responsive, said her sister Helene of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

"The whole crew, there wasn't anybody doing anything but practicing and they did it at least two extra days," she said.

And when their ship hit some rough waters in the Atlantic Ocean, the sisters said the captain got on the loudspeaker several times to reassure passengers.

Gloria Tryhart of Cranford was boarding her cruise ship today and was a bit nervous.

"Right before you go away, to hear something that like, obviously, you get a little nervous," she said.

But she got on anyway, having booked the trip months earlier.

Crews still haven't been able to resume their search of the wrecked cruise ship Costa Concordia in Italy, after suspending that search earlier today because the wreck had shifted slightly on the rocks. The number of confirmed dead stands at 11, with 22 others still missing.

Would you feel safe boarding a cruise ship? Sound off in the comments section below.

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