Efforts continued to stop water from overwhelming a small cruise ship that the captain purposely ran aground for safety's sake.

34 passengers from the Spirit of Nantucket were brought to shore from the ship, aground in about nine feet of water in the Intracoastal Waterway in the Pungo section of Virginia Beach. The rest of the passengers and crew remain aboard.

Evacuated passengers, many of them elderly, told 13News' Wayne Carter that they were asleep when "Spirit" ran aground. Many people said they felt a bump but thought little of it and went back to sleep.

"They took care of us. There wasn't really any excitement. They woke us, told us to go to the lounge. We went to the lounge. I mean, everything's been really smooth," said one woman, who is on the cruise celebrating her 70th birthday.

"I never really became concerned because I think the captain and crew handled it very well," added passenger Tom Warwick.

A bus from Venture Lines took passengers to Creeds Volunteer Fire Station, where they were to be questioned and medically evaluated before moving on.

Two Virginia Beach school buses also were sent to help.

"To get a call for having thirty-some passengers and thirty-some additional crew members on the Intercoastal, that was unusual," said Battalion Chief Dave Hutcheson of the Va. Beach Fire Department. "That's not an everyday thing for us."

Tom Rooney with the U.S. Coast Guard told 13News the ship called around 6:00 a.m. to report it was in trouble. Apparently, there was a leak in the shaft seal, according to Sky13 Pilot Rodger Crawley.

The shaft seal is used to keep water from coming into a boat, according to Lynnhaven Marine in Va. Beach. It's a propeller shaft that is hooked to the back of the engine or transmission and is under the boat.

The gash in the ship is 12 inches by two, but at this point, the Army Corps of Engineers does not know what put the tear in the ship.

The ship, about 50 yards offshore, is anchored and tied to the shore to keep it from drifting.

Two 25-foot rescue crews and a 41-foot utility boat from Coast Guard Station's Elizabeth City and Portsmouth, Virginia Beach Police Department, Virginia State Police Department and a Chesapeake marine unit also responded.

The 33 passengers from the cruise ship ended up spending the night in the Hilton, and the Hasenyagers says they couldn't be happier to be in Virginia Beach for the night.

"It's been a great trip, and there's lots to do in this town," said Gilbert Hasenyager. "They really put us up in fine accommodations, and we get to see the sights we came to see. We look right out on the ocean and the beach, couldn't ask for anything better."

"Had a good nap, and a shower, and I'm ready for dinner," added Lana Hasenyager. "We're just glad we're safe, and we have a lot to be thankful for."

According to the company's Website, the Spirit of Nantucket is 207 feet long and cruises up to 7 knots. It can carry as many as 102 guests.

Right now, according to the Website, the ship is making a 10-day Cradle of Colonial America tour tour that began November 3. It makes several stops between Alexandria and Charleston, SC.

A section of the Intracoastal Waterway is closed. The Coast Guard shut down the area 200 yards north and south of the incident.

Officials also said a tug boat is on its way to provide additional stability to the Spirit of Nantucket.

WVEC.com contacted Cruise West, of Seattle, Washington, which released this statement.

The “Spirit of Nantucket,” owned by the small ship cruise line Cruise West, sustained damage at 0533 EST today in the Intra-coastal waterway 25 miles south of the Elizabeth River near Norfolk, VA on a cruise from Alexandria, VA to Charleston, SC.  No injuries were reported from the 66 guests or crew onboard.  The vessel eased onto a mud shoal at the shoreline while damage is being assessed.  The Coast Guard was notified and are on the scene where guests are having breakfast.  Plans are underway to transfer guests by another vessel to motorcoaches which will take them to a local hotel.

The Coast Guard is waiting for salvage plans from Cruise West, which is responsible for getting the ship "unstuck" and moved. Pollution contractors are staying with the ship overnight, just in case there is a problem with leakage.

The Coast Guard says anyone with family aboard the ship should call 206-892-2426.