The Costa Allegra has finally docked in the Seychelles after three days stranded at sea.
The evacuation of more than 1,000 passengers and crew is expected to take several hours.
The cruise line said it had secured 400 hotel rooms and 600 flights to enable passengers and crew to fly home.
It said more than half the passengers will stay in the Seychelles to continue their holiday.
The rest will fly to Rome on three chartered aircraft.
The ship lost power on Monday and since then passengers have been without air-conditioning or hot food. Supplies of bread, water and flashlights have been flown in by helicopter.
Many passengers have been reportedly sleeping on deck to keep cool.
The stricken ship was originally due to be towed to Desroches Island but switched course when maritime officials warned the island could not accommodate such a large vessel.
The ship was carrying 413 crew members and 627 passengers, including 212 Italians, 31 Britons and eight Americans.
The incident comes just weeks after sister ship, the Costa Concordia, capsized off the Italian coast killing 32.
by Bev Fearis
