An operator of a luxury cruise ship is underwater – and has left the passengers dry.

US Marshals on Friday impounded two popular cruise ships in the Bahamas after allegations that their Miami-based owner Crystal Cruises failed to pay $4.6 million in fuel bills.

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony only had crew members on board, according to Cruise Law Newswhile hundreds of passengers faced “chaos” after being hastily booted off the ships before the ships were impounded.

“What a horrible, shameful end to a so-called #luxury cruise line.” tweeted Cruise Law News editor and maritime attorney Jim Walker.

A third ship, the Crystal Endeavor, the line’s newest and most luxurious vessel, has been seized in Argentina, Cruise Law News reported Saturday afternoon.

The Serenity and the Symphony dropped their passengers in the bimini last month before setting sail for the supposed safety of international waters. The passengers, some of whom were expecting an onward journey to California, were ferried to Fort Lauderdale and then left to their own devices.

“After five hours we exit the ferry only to find all luggage dumped everywhere, colors and numbers NOT together, luggage falling down, no porters and NO CRYSTAL REPS. NONE,” Serenity passenger Allyn Jaffrey Shulman wrote on Facebook. “No one gives orders. Nobody helps the older people. It was a shameful sight.”

Fuel supplier Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed a lawsuit in Florida last month seeking a warrant for the cruise ships’ arrest under US Admiralty Law, according to The Daily Mail reported.

The ships unloaded their passengers and put to sea after US District Court Judge Darrin Gayles approved the warrant.

Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed a lawsuit in Florida to seek an arrest warrant for all cruise ships under US Admiralty law, The Daily Mail reported.Instagram/@crystalcruises

It remained unclear how US officials had the power to seize the ships in the Bahamas, Cruise Law News reported.

Meanwhile, passengers aboard the Crystal Endeavor disembarked on Friday when the ship was detained in Ushuaia, Argentina, by the country’s maritime authority over some sort of unpaid bill. Seatrade cruise news reported.

The problem was fixed by Saturday night, the website reported, and the Endeavor was allowed to set sail again en route to Uruguay.

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony only had crew members on board as hundreds of passengers were pushed off the ships before the ships were impounded.Instagram/@crystalcruises

“We are unable to comment on any pending legal matters at this time,” said Vance Gulliksen, spokesman for Crystal Cruises told The Daily Mail. “Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony voyages ended last month and there are no guests on board.

“The officers and crew on board are well looked after and live in individual accommodation, some of which are guest cabins. We make sure that they are comfortable and can enjoy the various amenities on board. Crew members were paid according to their normal schedules and we meet and exceed all contractual obligations.”

Crystal Cruises is owned by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Genting Hong Kong.