Terrifying footage has emerged of panicked passengers aboard the MS Maud, a Norwegian cruise ship, as it lost power during a tumultuous encounter with a rogue wave in the North Sea. The incident occurred last week when the vessel was hit by 70-foot waves and gale-force winds brought on by Storm Pia.

Video footage captured the harrowing scene, showing passengers wearing life vests and desperately clinging to tables for safety. In the midst of the chaos, one panic-stricken person can be heard shouting, "Lay on the floor!" according to a video shared by SWNS.

The MS Maud set sail from Tilbury Docks in the UK on December 9 with 266 passengers and 131 crew members on board. However, its journey took a perilous turn on December 21 when it encountered the powerful storm, causing the ship to lose power and navigational equipment.

Among the passengers were Brian Launder, 75, and his wife, Carole, who were celebrating Carole's 70th birthday with their first-ever cruise. Launder, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, described the terrifying scene, stating that waves were crashing against their cabin windows on the fifth deck and water was rushing through the corridors.

He recounted, "At one stage, they were getting the lifeboats ready. The cruise had to be cut short as they had to cut through the storm. We spent lots of hours not moving with no power. We were talking to the officers, and they estimated the waves were 15 to 20 meters."

Furthermore, Launder shared the account of a baby being flung from a woman's arms due to the force of the rogue wave. Additionally, he revealed that several windows in the ship's bridge were blown out by the impact.

On Sunday, a rescue ship arrived alongside the MS Maud to assist with navigation after the ship was diverted to Bremerhaven, Germany. The Launder couple planned to return to Hamburg for an early morning flight to Frankfurt, finally making their way back to the UK, where they anticipated arriving in London on Christmas Eve.

Despite the terrifying ordeal, Brian Launder expressed an unexpected sentiment, saying, "Apart from the drama, we've actually quite enjoyed it. We've never been on a cruise ship before. I'd definitely go on one again."

In another video captured on board, passengers found moments of levity amidst the fear. The destruction of the Gingerbread Town, which collapsed and scattered across Muster Station A Deck 5, became a source of amusement for some. A video shared by user Oscar Dog showed a woman seated amidst the debris, holding a smiling elf puppet, as fellow passengers in orange survival gear surrounded her.

The incident aboard the MS Maud serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and harsh conditions that can arise at sea. It also highlights the resilience and humor displayed by passengers in the face of adversity. As the ship continues its journey to safety, passengers eagerly anticipate reaching their destinations, thankful to have survived an encounter with the formidable power of mother nature.