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13 September 2012 09:34
The Cunard cruise liner the Queen Victoria arrives at Southampton docks after construction in Venice
A 16-night Mediterranean cruise had to be cancelled after a passenger ship suffered a mechanical failure. The Queen Victoria was due to set sail from Southampton on October 3, but will instead now travel to Germany for emergency repairs. One of the propulsion units on the 2,014-berth liner failed, reducing its operating speed by as much as 10%.
Launched in 2007, the Queen Victoria suffered the propulsion failure during another Mediterranean cruise, but Cunard insisted the passengers on board were not in any danger. Nevertheless, the case underlines the importance of travellers investing in cruise travel insurance, in case of interrupted cruises, lost possessions or medical emergencies.
Customers due to sail on the cancelled cruise have been offered a place on an alternative trip or a full refund, as well as a 15% discount on a future cruise, operator Cunard said. The 2,014-passenger ship was due to embark on the 16-night Adriatic Discovery voyage, with plans to visit Cadiz, Katakolon, Corfu, Split, Venice, Dubrovnik and Malaga. Cunard president and managing director Peter Shanks said: "We are doing all we can to minimise the impact on our passengers and to help everyone affected find suitable alternative holidays."
22 September 2017
A new computer code that can be applied to GP surgery data could be the answer to identifying those most at risk of developing bowel cancer.
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21 September 2017
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning over a growing resistance to antibiotics.
20 September 2017
Thousands of Ryanair flights have been cancelled over the next six weeks, as the airline says it "messed up" allocation of its pilots' annual leave.
19 September 2017
Manchester's Girlguides are being urged to help the elderly with a new badge incentivising youngsters to tackle senior loneliness.
16 September 2017
Holidaymakers are being evacuated as winds up to 200km per hour hit Central Vietnam, with Typhoon Doksuri damaging houses, roads and infrastructure.
15 September 2017
People in parts of East Anglia are eight times more likely to survive liver disease than Blackpool residents, according to new data by Public Health England (PHE).
14 September 2017
A non-invasive alternative to gastric bypass surgery that helps people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight is being recommended for widespread use by NHS experts.
13 September 2017
Almost half of UK adults travelling to areas at risk of malaria are not covering themselves by taking medication, despite recommendations made by the NHS and world health organisations.
12 September 2017
A new health warning has been issued by scientists in Sweden, suggesting e-cigarettes with nicotine could lead to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
09 September 2017
Researchers have developed a futuristic pen-like device that can tell whether someone has cancer much faster than current technology.
08 September 2017
A staffing crisis in the NHS is seeing cancer patients turned away from their GP surgery and instead visiting A&E, a report has claimed.
07 September 2017
Whether it's binge-watching box-sets, shopping for clothes, chatting to friends or picking up work emails, staying connected is pretty much essential to everyday life.