A luxury cruise ship operator is underwater – leaving passengers high and dry.

US Marshals seized a pair of popular cruise ships in the Bahamas on Friday after allegations that their Miami-based owner, Crystal Cruises, failed to pay $4.6 million in fuel bills.

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony only had crew members on board, according to Cruise Law News, while hundreds of passengers were confronted with “bedlam” after rushing off the ships before the ships were impounded.

“What a horrible, disgraceful end to a so-called luxury #cruiseline”, tweeted Cruise Law News publisher and maritime attorney Jim Walker.

A third vessel, the Crystal Endeavour, the line’s newest and most luxurious ship, has been seized in Argentina, Cruise Law News reported Saturday afternoon.

The Serenity and Symphony dumped their passengers in Bimini last month before departing for the perceived safety of international waters. The passengers, some of whom expected to continue sailing to California, were transferred to Fort Lauderdale and then left to fend for themselves.

“Five hours later we get off the ferry and find that all luggage has been dumped everywhere, colors and numbers NOT together, luggage falling down, no porters and NO CRYSTAL REPS. NO,” Serenity passenger Allyn Jaffrey Shulman wrote on Facebook. “Nobody gives instructions. No one helps the older people. It was an embarrassing sight.”

Fuel supplier Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed a complaint in Florida last month for an arrest warrant against the cruise ships under the US Admiralty Act, The Daily Mail reported.

The ships unloaded their passengers and set out on the high seas after US federal court judge Darrin Gayles approved the order.

Peninsula Petroleum Far East has filed a complaint in Florida for an arrest warrant for all cruise ships under the US Admiralty Act, The Daily Mail reported.

Instagram/@crystalcruises

It remained unclear how US officials had the authority to seize the ships in the Bahamas, Cruise Law News reported.

Meanwhile, passengers aboard the Crystal Endeavor disembarked on Friday when the ship was detained in Ushuaia, Argentina, by the country’s maritime authority over some sort of unpaid bill. That reports Seatrade Cruise News.

The problem was resolved Saturday night, the site reported, and the Endeavor was allowed to set sail again on its way to Uruguay.

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony only had crew members on board as hundreds of passengers were rushed off the ships before the ships were impounded.

Instagram/@crystalcruises

“We are unable to comment on pending legal matters at this time,” said Crystal Cruises spokesman Vance Gulliksen. told The daily email. “Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony voyages ended last month and there are no guests on board.

“The officers and crew on board are well looked after and stay in single rooms, some of which are guest cabins. We make sure that they are comfortable and can enjoy the various amenities on board. Crew members are paid on their normal schedules and we meet and exceed all contractual obligations.”

Crystal Cruises is owned by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Genting Hong Kong.

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