Ellen--Have you ever tendered from a cruise ship? It can be a very dangerous business, in regular circumstances, when the ship has thruster and stabilizer power to keep it steady. This ship had neither of these. The passengers were in no immediate danger and it was much safer to keep them onboard, versus risking a very dangerous tendering exercise. Five people recently died during a routine tendering. Of course, there are no cruise ships just 'hanging around' either to transfer them to.

IF the ship was in danger of sinking, certainly they would have put them in tenders, but not in this circumstance.