San Diego , California ( CNN ) -- Even though they were stuck without air conditioning , hot showers and decent meals , some of the passengers who made it off a crippled Carnival Cruise Lines ship said Friday that they would go on a cruise again . `` I 'm so thankful that we 're all alive , '' Leticia Lewis said on CNN 's `` American Morning . '' `` I do n't wish this experience on anyone . It was n't a wonderful event . But I would take another one . '' Amber Haslerud , another passenger , said her voyage on the ill-fated Carnival Cruise ship Splendor was her first cruise , and she would also go on another one . `` I definitely would give it another go and try to get the experience I should have had this time , '' said Haslerud . `` I deserve it after all that we went through this week . '' The ship and its approximately 3,300 passengers arrived in San Diego on Thursday , four days after a fire in the engine room left the ship without air conditioning , hot showers or refrigeration one day into a scheduled seven-day cruise along the Mexican coast . `` It was absolutely deplorable , '' passenger Marquis Horace said . At one point , the ship ran out of food , he said , and `` they started making mayo sandwiches . '' Passengers said they were n't told there was a fire until they left the ship . Horace said the crew informed passengers only of `` a flameless fire . '' Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer de la Cruz said officials initially spoke only of smoke because the crew could n't get into the engine room to assess the situation . Passengers were advised of the fire once it was confirmed , she said . Maritime law does n't require cruise lines to tell passengers about onboard problems , said Robert Jarvis , a professor of law at Nova Southern University in Fort Lauderdale , Flordia . He said it sometimes makes sense to limit or delay the release of information to avoid a panic . Carnival 's position is to inform passengers any time an issue will affect their cruise , de la Cruz said . The cruise line has said it plans to give customers who were aboard the Splendor a full refund , reimbursement for travel costs and a free cruise . Natalie Martinez and Angela Evans are among those who said they would also go on another cruise . But they said they would bring a survival kit with flashlights , chocolate and air freshener . And `` I think we would wait a year , '' Martinez added.. Some passengers are n't sure if they 'll cruise again . Maurice Harold and his wife , Cynthia Harold , not only had to endure being adrift , they had to do so without some of their own clothes , medicines and other items lost when their luggage went into the water while being loaded onto the ship . `` It was pretty traumatic . It was a scary situation , said Cynthia Harold , who said she needs to use an oxygen machine while sleeping and was unable to after the ship lost power . `` I really have n't slept since I left Virginia Beach , '' she said . The couple said they were unsure of their next steps , adding that it all depends on how Carnival compensates them . Others looked at the incident differently calling it an `` adventure . '' `` A lot of things went wrong , but it was really fun , '' said one young passenger , Ryan Harlan , who was traveling with his parents . `` We went to the Kids ' Camp . '' He said the Kids ' Camp was , in fact , his favorite part , because he made some friends . And the worst part ? `` Being stranded in the middle of the ocean , '' he said . The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday it was investigating the incident . But later in the day the safety board said officials from Panama would lead the investigation because that is the country the vessel is flagged under . The U.S. Coast Guard will also be part of the investigation , the transportation board said .
NEW : Maritime law gives crew discretion on informing passengers of incidents . Officials from Panama are investigating the incident on the cruise ship . Some passengers said they ate mayonnaise sandwiches .