BBC reporter Valerie Jones: Passengers back on shore, shaken but safe & sound

At the height of the blaze, thick black smoke billowed from the lower rear portion of the ship, the Ecstasy, owned by the Carnival Corportation.

The fire broke out on Monday in a laundry room shortly after the ship left port. By the time it was two miles out to sea, the blaze appeared to be out of control.

BBC correspondent Malcolm Brabant witnesses the blaze

The 2,500 passengers on board were moved to the front and upper decks of the ship, to await any possible evacuation.

Crew members tried to fight the blaze with a single fire hose, before rescue vessels arrived and sprayed thousands of gallons of sea water onto the flames.

No life boats were lowered, no-one was injured, and no evacuation was necessary.

Our correspondent says the blaze appears to have been caused by an electrical fault.