Pirate Attack on Luxury Cruise Liner

— -- As the Seabourn Spirit pulled into the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean today, passengers recounted how the ship's captain outran and outmaneuvered the pirates.

"There were two boats altogether, and we tried to run one over and took zigzag evasive measures, and then just blasted out to sea to outrun these guys," said Ray Albers, a passenger onboard the luxury yacht. "And we succeeded."

The pirates, who were captured in photographs taken by a passenger, were heavily armed. One man was even seen loading a rocket grenade launcher.

"The captain did say that they had not shown up on radar because they were fiberglass boats," said Meg Rhian, another passenger on the cruise liner. "The captain came on pretty early and said, 'We will not let them board this ship. Period.'"

One Gang May Be Behind Many Attacks

Shipping industry experts said large numbers of pirates operate off the coast of Somalia, where the attacks like that on the Seabourn Spirit take place every day.

"Within 36 hours, there were three attacks on ships and two further attacks on merchant vessels, and we suspect the same gang is at work," said David Osler of Lloyd's List of London.

At least two of the rocket-launched grenades had hit the ship. One, which had not exploded, was embedded in the deck.

"It was the loudest bang noise I have ever heard in my life. Had I been standing it would have gone straight through my head," said Donna McInnis, a third passenger.

Crew members on cargo ships attacked by pirates, however, have not been so fortunate.

"They won't stop killing an entire crew if that fits their mission," said Osler.

Security officials said today the cruise industry needs to prepare for another round of attacks.

ABC News' David Scott, Rhonda Schwartz, and Avni Patel contributed to this report.