Saturday, 02 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / Travel

Sick dad kicked off cruise for flicking cigarette

NZ Herald
20 Jun, 2016 06:08 AM2 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Courtney O'Keefe said her mother hadn't left her room since her husband was kicked off the ship. Photo / iStock

Courtney O'Keefe said her mother hadn't left her room since her husband was kicked off the ship. Photo / iStock

The daughter of a Perth man says her sick father was left to find his own way home from Bali, after he was kicked off a P&O cruise ship for flicking a cigarette overboard.

Mark O'Keefe, 57, and wife Debra had embarked on the ten-day cruise from Fremantle to Bali on June 6.

His daughter Courtney O'Keefetold WAtoday her father was severely reprimanded after a P&O security guard saw him flicking a cigarette overboard.

"He had maybe two drags because the weather was horrendous - he butted it out, and without thinking, he flicked it," she said.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

He apologised and was told if he returned to his cabin he would face no consequences. However, the next day Ms O'Keefe's mother called her in a panic after Mr O'Keefe was removed from the ship.

"The captain said 'you're off' - no letting my dad apologise, no option of cutting him off at the bar, no giving him a fine. Nothing."

He was transported to an island and then flown to Denpasar, where he was left to find his own way home from Bali, according to Ms O'Keefe.

"My dad is 58 in a few weeks - he's ex-army, SAS, with cancer and cholesterol problems - and my mum handles all his medication," she told WAtoday.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Her mother was unable to leave with him, as they had saved their money for the trip to Bali and couldn't afford two tickets home.

Ms O'Keefe later took to Facebook to complain about her father's treatment by the cruise line.

A spokesman for P&O told WAtoday he could not comment on this specific incident due to privacy concerns, but said it would not be surprising for a passenger to be removed for flicking a cigarette overboard.

Passengers were given an "explicit warning" not to dispose cigarettes over the side of the ship, he said.

Related articles

Travel

South America: Rock steady

19 Jun 04:00 AM
Travel

Travel Insider: London

19 Jun 12:00 AM
Travel

Cruising: Ports of call

19 Jun 01:00 AM
Travel

The perils of booking travel online

19 Jun 09:10 PM

"A lighted cigarette can be drawn into the ship posing a serious risk to the ship and the safety of passengers and crew."

He said procedures were in place to look after passengers who have disembarked, but Ms O'Keefe said this was not the case.

She said her mother had refused to leave her room until the cruise docked on Sunday.

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Travel

Take a Coromandel holiday approved by science*

01 Dec 06:36 PM
Premium
Travel

Your all-new travel bucket list for 2024: Bhutan

01 Dec 05:00 AM
Travel

The travel hot list 2024: Part Two

01 Dec 05:00 AM
New Zealand

Researchers prove that being in the Coromandel reduces stress and anxiety

30 Nov 09:48 PM

The heart of a spectacular holiday

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Take a Coromandel holiday approved by science*

Take a Coromandel holiday approved by science*

01 Dec 06:36 PM

*Side effects may include sunburn and ice cream cravings. Always read the label.

Premium
Your all-new travel bucket list for 2024: Bhutan

Your all-new travel bucket list for 2024: Bhutan

01 Dec 05:00 AM
The travel hot list 2024: Part Two

The travel hot list 2024: Part Two

01 Dec 05:00 AM
Researchers prove that being in the Coromandel reduces stress and anxiety

Researchers prove that being in the Coromandel reduces stress and anxiety

30 Nov 09:48 PM
Immerse yourself in Japan’s world of omotenashi
sponsored

Immerse yourself in Japan’s world of omotenashi

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP