Robbery forces cruise switch

The attack on cruise passengers in St Kitts at the weekend must have been scary. Armed raiders blocked a road with a fallen tree and ambushed a tour bus carrying 16 adults and a child from the Celebrity Mercury.
They boarded the bus and forced the tourists at gunpoint to hand over money, jewellery, cameras and mobile phones.
No-one was hurt, and within hours police arrested four suspects in pre-dawn raids after a tip-off from other islanders.
A police statement said the robbery was unprecedented. “Last year, over 500,000 cruise passengers safely disembarked in St. Kitts to enjoy the many attractions of our island,” it read. “We deeply regret any type of incident that might tarnish our visitors’ experience. As law enforcement authorities, we are committed to root out and expose the persons responsible.”
Which makes Carnival and Princess Cruises’ knee-jerk decision to cancel calls at St Kitts difficult to understand. Grand Princess, scheduled to visit today, was diverted to the neighbouring Caribbean island of Antigua, following Carnival Miracle yesterday.
And it’s all the more surprising because only a few months ago, Carnival and other cruise lines were cancelling visits to Antigua after a succession of incidents, including the murder of a passenger from a Star Clippers ship.
They’ve got short memories, these cruise companies.