AN INVESTIGATION was continuing today to establish why a Southampton-based cruise liner had been turned away from a Caribbean island.

Passengers on board P&O Cruises' Oceana, who had paid up to £4,700 for the 15-night Caribbean cruise, were angered when the US Coastguard ordered them to stay on board the vessel when she arrived at the island of St Thomas on Tuesday.

Despite negotiations with the Oceana's captain, the coastguard insisted the 77,000-tonne ship leave after they rejected pre-arrival immigration documentation submitted by P&O Cruises.

It was the first time that a P&O cruise ship had been turned away from the island, which is one of three that make up the US Virgin Islands. The company offered £75 on board credit to all passengers as compensation.

Yesterday there was no response from the US Coastguard when the Daily Echo tried to find out the reasons for their actions.

It was not the first time cruise passengers have experienced immigration problems after arriving in St Thomas.

Since the events of September 11, 2001, the United States has tightened its immigration procedures.

Passenger Don Lee had to queue for three hours in immigration at St Thomas when he visited the island last month.

Mr Lee recommended that P&O should reconsider going to other islands instead.

The 70-year-old from Otterbourne said: "I went there in 1957 on the Mauretania II and it is a beautiful island. When we went there last month we queued for three hours at immigration. They had four people checking almost 2,000 passengers through. It was very pedantic.

"The best way to bring them back to their senses is simply not to go."

Meanwhile P&O Cruises have said they have no plans to reconsider visiting St Thomas but pointed out that it was not one of their regular destinations.

A spokesman said: "We are still investigating and it may take some time and we may decide to keep the outcome internal."

Oceana, which is based in the Caribbean during the winter, is due in Barbados tomorrow.