Schoolies to get ship-shape_英文原版

p&o cruises says specialist voyages for schoolies this year will include heightened security measures, with misbehaving schoolies ordered off cruises at the next port of call.

it is the last year the company will run such voyages. it will cancel cruises for school leavers from next year in the wake of controversy about the death of brisbane woman diane brimble.

p&o cruises managing director gavin smith said the company had decided not to offer any age-specific cruises from next year.

three schoolies cruises in 2007 have been cancelled, with the cost of tickets already purchased refunded.

mr smith said p&o wanted to cater for a diverse age range, saying its average passenger age was 47 but ranged from one-year-old to more than 90.

"as our business continues to develop, we see our future growth coming from this traditional, broad customer base,'' he said in a statement.

"school leaver and other age-dedicated cruises are not where we see our business developing.''
this year's schoolies cruises were fully booked and would proceed, mr smith said.

but he said the cruises would have increased security measures, including additional security officers and the use of closed circuit television cameras.

the company's new excessive behaviour policy, in which passengers engaging in inappropriate behaviour would be disembarked at the next port of call, would also be implemented, mr smith said.

p&o cruises has been central in a controversy surrounding the death of mrs brimble, a 42-year-old from brisbane who died on a cruise in 2002.

mrs brimble died from an overdose of gamma-hydroxybutyrate, a date-rape drug also known as fantasy, the day after boarding the p&o cruise ship pacific sky.

a coronial inquest into her death has been adjourned until november 6.