Cruise & Ferry
Arrest made following cruise ship bomb threat – UK News – News
Armed police were spotted descending on a ferry terminal in South Hampton, England and dramatically detaining a man in front of stunned cruise passengers today, following a bomb scare. The 63-year-old man claimed to have an explosive device, and upon searching the vessel and surrounding area, nothing was found.
The man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offense and communicating false information. He was released and will have a court hearing on Nov. 8, according to People magazine. At this point in time, there has been no mention of motive.
Officers were filmed surrounding a van at Southampton port on Saturday as passengers aboard the Ventura, a PandO cruise ship bound for the Canary Islands, were instructed to gather at muster points. Among them was Andy Palmer, an early boarder who was close to the action when police established a 200-meter perimeter, reports Mirror UK.
From the ship, Mr. Palmer observed the arrest and recounted the moment he learned of the bomb threat.
He said he had just boarded the ferry and was enjoying “some lunch and a drink” when he saw “a guy being dragged out of his car by six armed policemen.”
A representative for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary verified that officers responded to an incident after receiving reports of a man “claiming to be in possession of an explosive device.”
They reported: “Police are currently on scene at the Mayflower Cruise Ferry terminal in Southampton.
“This follows reports of a man claiming to be in possession of an explosive device. The man was arrested and a 200m cordon was put in place while specialist officers searched a lorry at the location.
“Searches have concluded and no such device has been located. We are satisfied that there is no risk to the public, and the cordon will now be lifted.”
Tourism rebounds in Vanuatu as Port Vila welcomed the first cruise ship back after the devastating December earthquake when Carnival Adventure docked on 8 August 2025. Carnival Splendor and Carnival Encounter are also due to visit Port Vila this month.
The return of Carnival Cruise Line also marks the Port Vila debut of the rebranded and relaunched Carnival Adventure, formerly Pacific Adventure, after the integration of the P&O Australia fleet.
The Carnival Cruise Line ship arrived with 2,846 guests on board, spending the day in Port Vila on Friday.
The road between the Port Vila CBD and the cruise port remains closed due to a landslide during the earthquake, so a temporary tender berthing arrangement was in place to transport passengers.
The Vanuatu Government organised a welcome ceremony for the guests and crew, who brought a much-needed economic boost to Port Vila.
Carnival Splendor and Carnival Encounter (formerly P&O’s Pacific Encounter) will also visit Port Vila in August 2025.
Carnival Corporation Senior Vice President & Country Manager Peter Little said: “We are delighted to be returning to Port Vila to bring a much-needed economic boost to the city following the devastating earthquake late last year.”
“The Port Vila community has done it tough without cruise visitors this year, so it’s great Carnival guests can help lift spirits, while spending money with local businesses.”
During the visit, Carnival Adventure Captain Francesco Bencivenga exchanged commemorative plaques in the traditional maritime ceremony to mark the ship’s first visit to the port of call.
For more info, head to carnival.com.au
A cruise ship was evacuated in Southampton after a passenger made a bomb threat onboard.
Holidaymakers were ordered to vacate the Ventura ship at the Mayflower cruise ferry terminal after a man claimed he had an explosive device.
The ship, operated by P&O Cruises, was cordoned off on Saturday while specialist officers searched a lorry.
No device was found and the suspect has been arrested on suspicion of a committing a public order offence and communicating false information.
One passenger was tucking into lunch when police descended on the area around the ship.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
He told the Daily Echo: ‘The captain made an announcement that we were in the bomb zone and we had to get out.’
The unnamed 28-year-old said that the incident had left guests ‘frustrated’ at the start of their getaway.
A statement from Hampshire Constabulary said that the vessel had been searched but that officers were now satisfied that there is ‘no risk to the public’.
Associated British Ports, which operates the terminal, said it would ‘support any ongoing enquiries by the relevant authorities’.
Normal operations have since resumed at the port.
P&O Cruises said it had made the decision to evacuate passengers out of the ‘abundance of caution’.
It said in a statement to ITV: ‘Due to an earlier police incident and in an abundance of caution, we made the decision to evacuate Ventura and the passenger terminal.
‘The safety of our guests, crew and port staff is our highest priority and we are grateful for the co-operation of the authorities, as well as everyone’s patience whilst the precautionary measures were in place.’
The Port of Southampton handles more than two million passengers annually across five terminals.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Apprentice star tackles ‘attacker’ after ‘three people slashed in Aldi car park’
MORE: Woman, 18, suffers ‘life-changing’ injuries after hair is caught in funfair ride
MORE: Where hosepipe ban for millions comes into place today
SOUTHAMPTON, England (WKRC) – A 63-year-old man was arrested and “dragged out of his car” after he claimed to have an “explosive device” aboard a cruise ship, police said.
According to a statement from the Hampshire Police obtained by People, authorities were called to the Mayflower Cruise Ferry terminal at around 11:45 a.m. on Aug. 9 regarding “a man claiming to be in possession of an explosive device.”
Officers allegedly searched the area, including a nearby large truck, and eventually said they were “satisfied that there was no risk to the public.” Prior to the announcement, both the P&O Cruises ship and the terminal were evacuated for safety.
Authorities confirmed the arrest of a 63-year-old man in connection to the threat, and a passenger claimed to have seen the man “being dragged out of his car by six armed policemen,” per People.
The man was reportedly arrested on suspicion of a public order offense and communicating false information.
-
Brand Stories3 weeks agoBloom Hotels: A Modern Vision of Hospitality Redefining Travel
-
Brand Stories2 weeks agoCheQin.ai sets a new standard for hotel booking with its AI capabilities: empowering travellers to bargain, choose the best, and book with clarity.
-
Destinations & Things To Do3 weeks agoUntouched Destinations: Stunning Hidden Gems You Must Visit
-
Destinations & Things To Do2 weeks agoThis Hidden Beach in India Glows at Night-But Only in One Secret Season
-
AI in Travel3 weeks agoAI Travel Revolution: Must-Have Guide to the Best Experience
-
Brand Stories1 month agoVoice AI Startup ElevenLabs Plans to Add Hubs Around the World
-
Brand Stories1 month agoHow Elon Musk’s rogue Grok chatbot became a cautionary AI tale
-
Brand Stories3 weeks agoContactless Hospitality: Why Remote Management Technology Is Key to Seamless Guest Experiences
-
Asia Travel Pulse1 month agoLooking For Adventure In Asia? Here Are 7 Epic Destinations You Need To Experience At Least Once – Zee News
-
Brand Stories1 month agoChatGPT — the last of the great romantics
You must be logged in to post a comment Login