There’s a drama going on in the seas off the east coast of Australia, as authorities try to figure out what to do with a P&O cruise ship that is carrying three people who may be infected with the H1N1 virus.

The Pacific Dawn set off from Sydney on Monday, but shortly thereafter three crew members began exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

The ship was first diverted to Willis Island near the Great Barrier Reef, where it was to anchor temporarily while test results were pending, but authorities recently reversed that decision and decided to let the ship dock tomorrow at Port Douglas on the north coast.

Authorities are still wrestling with what to do if the test results come back positive. Some are calling for all passengers to be quarantined in hotels or onboard, but officials are hesitant to do that because it would be logistically difficult and because the flu has already spread throughout Australia to a certain extent.

In the meantime the three crew members are being isolated, while passengers are apparently enjoying themselves in the ship’s casino, pool and restaurants.

The saga actually began during the Pacific Dawn‘s previous sailing, which ended in Sydney on Monday. Several passengers were suspected of having the swine flu bug, but all passengers were allowed to disembark normally and go home. Since then, 18 have developed the flu.

Critics are saying that government health authorities should have screened all passengers and isolated those who appeared to be sick. Instead, officials asked all 2,000 people who sailed on the ship to voluntarily quarantine themselves at home for the next few days to prevent further spread of the illness. In reaction to the criticism, health department officials are now requiring all ships that dock at Sydney harbor to hold passengers on board until they can be screened and cleared for disembarkation.

Search Called off for Overboard Teen

The Coast Guard has officially called off the search for an 18-year-old man who reportedly fell off a Carnival cruise ship late Sunday night.

The teen, Bruce O’Krepki of Hammond, Louisiana, was on a graduation cruise with 35 classmates when he went overboard around 9:45 p.m. in the waters off Tampa, Florida. The Carnival Fantasy was on a seven-day trip from New Orleans to Key West and Nassau, Bahamas.

The Coast Guard began looking for O’Krepki at 10 p.m. by both air and sea. They scanned a 5,300 square mile area over a 48-hour period but have so far found no trace of him and he is now presumed dead.

There has been no word on why or how he fell overboard. According to CruiseJunkie.com, five people fell off ships in 2008, though the yearly average is around one. Most incidents are suicide or alcohol-related. Some cruise lines are raising the heights of railings on new ships, but the industry maintains that the current height is sufficient and that cruise ships are one of the safest modes of transportation.

Cruise Lines Resume Mexico Port Stops

Several cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Princess and Carnival, have recently resumed (or plan to resume) port stops in Mexico after a several-week hiatus prompted by fears of swine flu.

After the CDC warned against all non-essential travel to Mexico on April 27, most of the big cruise companies abruptly stopped going to Mexico. Many ships were diverted to Caribbean or North American destinations, often to the dismay of passengers, many of whom ended up in cool, urban climates such as Seattle and Long Beach, California instead of warm beach destinations like Ensenada and Puerto Vallarta.

Most cruise lines were offering compensation in the form of discounts for future trips, or onboard freebies such as drinks and food.
Norwegian and Holland America are still holding off on Mexico. Norwegian will not return until late September, and Holland America Line in October.

Bikini Cruises Scrapped

A Rhode Island businessman has decided to cancel plans to offer “Model Cruises,” whereby customers would pay to cruise in a yacht with scantily clad women.

Shawn Sullivan had already taken a few reservations for the $200 cruise, which would ferry presumably male clients in a yacht around Newport Harbor with attractive women in bikinis.

Sullivan cited lack of interest in the venture and pledged to refund all the money he had collected.

Related links on PeterGreenberg.com:

• Cruising 101: How to Choose, Book and Enjoy Your Perfect Cruise
• A Cruise Veteran’s 12 Tips for Cruising Couples
• Despite Recession, Cruise Lines See Record Number of Bookings

By Karen Elowitt for PeterGreenberg.com