Tourists stranded as cruise liner is impounded

More than 1,300 tourists on a Caribbean cruise are to be flown home after their liner was impounded in Barbados.

Island officials ordered the 58,000 ton European Vision to stay in port because of claims from creditors.

The 1,385 passengers and 657 crew aboard the three-year-old liner will be allowed to remain on board until arrangements are made for them to be flown out of Barbados, the Port Authority said.

Authorities served the ship a warrant, acting on behalf of the French group GIE Vision Bail, the Port Authority said.

It said the action related to €7.2m claims made by creditors.

The liner’s operators are Festival Cruises, or First European Cruises.

Company officials couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

On Tuesday, 750 French and Italian tourists had their Mediterranean cruise cut short after a Spanish judge impounded another Festival cruise ship when it arrived in Barcelona, said Jose Maria Pelayez, marketing manager of the Italian-based company.