Cruise lines 'stop calling at Tunis' after British passenger killed in terrorist attack

MORE than 50 cruise operators have cancelled port calls in Tunisia after several passengers were caught up in the terrorist attack in which a British woman was killed.

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MSC Cruises Splendida will remain in Tunisia overnight

Thomson and First Choice are among the operators to scrap scheduled stops at the country's ports, which are popular with British holidaymakers. 

P&O, Celebrity and Princess Cruises all said they would monitor the situation and Holland America Line said it was considering cancelling all Tunis port calls.

The news comes amid reports that the two gunmen involved in Wednesday's terror attack were trained in Libya.

Tunisia's secretary of state for security is reported to have said the gunmen left the country "illegally" in December, crossing the border into neighbouring Libya for weapons training before returning to Tunisia.

Norwegian Cruise Line stopped calling at Tunisia last year after Israeli passengers on one of its ships were not allowed to disembark.

MSC Cruises issued a statement to say its ship MSC Splendida will remain in Tunisia overnight after 12 of their passengers died while they were on a ship’s excursion to the Bardo Museum in Tunis.

Costa Cruises also cancelled future Tunis port calls by their ships Costa Fortuna, Costa Favolosa and Costa neoRiviera.

Three passengers from its ship Costa Fascinosa were also killed in the museum attack and two have still not been accounted for.

MSC Splendida was originally scheduled to leave La Goulette, the cruise port in Tunis, tonight.

The MSC statement said local security authorities had set up “exceptional security measures in the port and around the ships to ensure the utmost safety of MSC Cruises' guests and crew members”.

It also said: “An MSC Cruises team comprised of representatives from the company's ownership, its management and dedicated care task force is currently on its way to Tunisia to provide all possible support to guests onboard and to work closely with local authorities.

“MSC Cruises remains in close contact with the relevant national and international authorities, local authorities, the ship captain as well as with the port agent to constantly monitor the situation as it unfolds.”

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Mother-of-two Sally Adey was the British cruise passenger killed in the attack

Several cruise companies including MSC and Costa have cancelled future Tunis port calls

The mass withdrawal of cruise operators from the North African state is expected to set back Tunisia's tourism industry, which is better developed than almost all of its neighbours.

A spokesman for the Cruise Lines International Association - the world's largest cruise industry organisation - told the Daily Mail: "No CLIA member ships are scheduled to call at Tunis in the foreseeable future.

"Cruise lines coordinate closely with national and international authorities when visiting destinations around the globe to help ensure passenger safety."

The British passenger killed in the attack outside the Bardo Museum in Tunis was mother-of-two Sally Adey, 57, who was among at least 23 people killed by two gunmen yesterday.

Mrs Adey, a solicitor from Shifnal, Shropshire, was visiting the archaeological museum with her husband Robert, who was believed to be unhurt.

They were on an excursion organised by staff on the 3,714-passenger MSC Splendida.

The statement continued: “Consequently, all MSC Cruises coaches on tour at the time of the events were immediately ordered back to the port and all other excursions and on the ground activities were immediately suspended.”

Prime Minister David Cameron has said the Government would do all it could to help Mrs Adey’s family, adding: “We will not let terrorists undermine democracy.”

A close friend of Sally Adey, Julie Holden, had issued a statement on behalf of Shakespeares Solicitors in Birmingham, where Robert Adey works.

“Sally Adey was a much-loved daughter, wife and mother. The family are devastated by her loss.

“They are also saddened for others who have lost people they love, and for those who have been hurt.”

David Crawshaw, the Adeys' neighbour for more than a decade, said of the couple: “They were both solicitors and they have got a son and daughter – Harry and Molly – who are in their early 20s.

“They were really the sort of neighbours you want, a fine, hard-working family, and Sally will be missed by us.”

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