Cruise Ship Damaged, Stranded In Vanuatu

Cruise operator P&O is trying to find charter flights for hundreds of passengers on a storm-damaged liner that is stranded in Vanuatu. The Pacific Star was battered by gale force winds and 10 metre waves hours after leaving Auckland. New Zealand Correspondent Peter Lewis reports a wild storm damaged the ship's bow, as well as some windows, doors and satellite equipment.The Pacific StarMany of the 1,200 passengers onboard were sea sick, some questioning why the cruise was not postponed. The ship cancelled a scheduled visit to New Caledonia and made instead for Port Vila from where P&O Cruises is now trying to arrange return flights for its shaken holidaymakers. The passengers will all receive refunds. A company spokeswoman says it is the first time in 10 years a cruise has been abandoned because of bad weather. The damaged vessel will return empty to its home port of Brisbane for repairs.