Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Should cruise lines pull out of Antigua in wake of murder?

Last month's murder of a Star Clippers passenger in Antigua once again has raised the issue of safety on the island. Is it time for cruise lines to pull out?

Star Clippers, for one, already has decided the answer is yes. The sailing ship line Friday said it would replace calls in Antigua with calls at the Caribbean island of Nevis, effective immediately. But so far, no other line has followed suit.

The murder of Star Clippers passenger Nina Elisabeth Nilssen, 29, of the San Francisco area on Jan. 19 was just the latest serious crime against tourists in Antigua.

A 38-year-old Australian man visiting the island last year on his yacht was shot dead while walking with his girlfriend, and in 2008 the island was the scene of a double murder of a honeymooning British couple -- incidents that had previously raised questions about the safety of visiting the island.

The British couple were shot in their room at Antigua's Cocos Hotel.

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