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Even in Verne's centenary year, "Around the World" still has the passion, if not the success

From: Harry Hayfield <harry_hayfield~at~beeb.net>
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 23:59:01 -0000
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~Gilead.org.il>

A luxury ocean liner that was supposed to be sailing around the world but
has thus far made it just off Britain's southern coast was stuck in port for
yet another night, despite promises it was about to set sail. The P and O
ship Aurora, and its complement of 1,752 passengers awaiting for what has
been billed as the voyage of a lifetime, has been immobilized because of
engine trouble since January 9.

The advertised 103-day day cruise calling in at 40 ports has had to be
truncated to 93 days, with passengers seeing nothing more exotic so far than
the shoreline of Southampton harbour and the nearby Isle of Wight. P and O
said earlier in the day that following more work to fix a problem with the
ship's propulsion system it was "confident" the Aurora would set sail on
Tuesday afternoon. However the repairs were now continuing into the night,
with no definite departure date set.

"The departure checks including the final checks to repairs on the
propulsion motor have revealed that further work needs to be undertaken on
the motor," a P and O spokeswoman said. "That work is under way. It is
anticipated it will be completed late this evening. "She won't be sailing
before midnight and I can't give a time-scale after that either."

Despite the problems, all but a handful of passengers -- who have paid
between 10,000 pounds (14,000 euros, 18,000 dollars) and more than 40,000
pounds -- have remained aboard, mollified by free drinks, entertainment and
accommodation.
Received on Wed 19 Jan 2005 - 02:09:31 IST

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