Cruise passengers refuse to keel over

PASSENGERS onboard the Queen Mary 2 are threatening to stage a sit-in when the ship reaches port in Brazil to protest a last-minute change in itinerary. Cruise operator Cunard Line has said that one of the ship’s four propulsion pods was taken out of service forcing them to cancel the ship’s calls at St. Kitts, Barbados and Salvador, and shorten the call in Rio de Janeiro. According to Cunard, passengers were offered a 50% refund to make up for the missing stops but many passengers are still unhappy and claim that they will refuse to leave the ship. (Sue Lewitton) suel@nowmedia.co.za