MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

QM2 passengers launch mass lawsuit

Passengers on board the luxury liner Queen Mary 2 have initiated a mass lawsuit against the ship's operator. A UK law firm told the BBC news website it has registered a class action on behalf of “disappointed holidaymakers”.

The operator has offered to refund half the cost of the cruise after it changed itinerary, following an accident. Angry passengers have rejected the offer and threatened to refuse to disembark when the ship reaches Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Friday.

The operator, Cunard, offered to refund about 1,000 passengers after the liner was forced to cancel three stops when one of its propellers was damaged in an accident leaving Florida. More than 200 passengers are so far involved in the group litigation and more are said to be joining.

Holidaymakers say the 50% refund applies only to the cost of the cruise and does not address the cost of flights or hotels at the aborted destinations, which they say form a significant part of their total holiday cost.

Passengers say they were only informed of the revised route once they were at sea and some are said to be furious at having been on board for nine days straight. Brian Adler, 61, from Manchester, UK, said some "militant passengers" are threatening to lock themselves in their cabins when they reach Rio to prevent the ship from continuing its journey.

Mr Adler told the BBC News website crew has told him the ship has not deployed stabilizers to steady itself as often as it should because it is travelling at speed to reach Rio by Friday. He alleged there has been a mass outbreak of sea-sickness as a result.

"One waiter on the ship told me it is the worst cruise he's ever been on. He said he feels so ill from the the motion that he can't sleep at night or work properly during the day.

The QM2 is sailing two days behind schedule and has already abandoned stops in the Caribbean islands of St Kitts and Barbados, and Salvador in Brazil. It is scheduled to complete its full journey in Los Angeles on 22 February.

This latest mishap is not the first time the liner has known trouble. Fifteen people were killed when a gangway collapsed while the ship was in dry dock at St Nazaire, France, in 2003. In 2004, she arrived back home from her maiden voyage late after bow doors covering propellers failed to shut in Portugal. (BBC)