Band plays for passengers of grounded cruise ship

JUNEAU, Alaska – When the Empress of the North ran aground, the band played on – as everyone disembarked in a safe and orderly fashion.

Passengers jolted awake by the ship hitting a charted reef 50 miles southwest of Juneau early Monday were ordered to don lifejackets and gather in the ballroom, where a singer and piano player entertained them with songs including “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” as they waited for rescue.

Passengers praised the ship's crew for taking charge.

“They just seemed to know what they were doing. They were caring, courteous, the whole thing, and I think that's what kept everybody calm,” said Mary Crosby, 83, of Seattle....

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