Perilous Times
British couple thrown off Queen Mary 2 after 'anti-semitic' row
A British man and his Broadway producer wife have been ejected from the
Queen Mary 2 after she responded angrily to an allegedly anti-Semitic
comment made at the dinner table.
By Nick Allen in Los Angeles
Published: 7:00AM BST 04 Oct 2010
British couple thrown off Queen Mary 2 after 'anti-semitic' row
However, the Cunard cruise line disputed the couple's version of events
Photo: REUTERS
Frederick Evans, 91, and his wife Gloria Sher, 82, were at a black tie
dinner a few days into a five-week, $20,000 (£12,000) cruise when the
trouble flared.
According to Miss Sher, who is Jewish, another passenger told her to
shut up and then said: "There are too many Jews on board."
In an interview with the New York Post she admitted swearing at the
person and declaring "How dare you insult me!" before storming off to
her room.
She said the following morning the captain came to the room and told
the couple, who live in Manhattan, that they had insulted another
passenger and would have to leave the ship.
Miss Sher told the New York Post: "He told two seniors we had to get
off in Quebec and make our way home. We begged him not to do this."
The couple were eventually allowed to remain on board for another six
days until the ship passed through New York but had to stay in their
cabin.
Miss Sher produced the 1970s musical Shenandoah which won two Tony
Awards.
She said: "I was treated with no respect and unbelievably rude and
shockingly terrible. I've been sick ever since. It has ruined our lives.
It's changed us forever."
Mr Evans said the captain had acted like a modern day Captain Bligh.
However, the Cunard cruise line disputed the couple's version of events
and issued a statement in which it said they had engaged in "multiple
incidences of disrespectful and disruptive behavior towards crew
members and other guests."
The cruise line said it "fully supported" the captain's decision and
was refunding the couple $839 (£530).