Cruise line: Canadian water undrinkable

ST. JOHN, New Brunswick, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A U.S. cruise line claims an administrative error was responsible for warning passengers water and food in the Canadian province of New Brunswick was suspect.

Princess Cruise Lines officials said a daily newsletter given to passengers aboard the Royal Princess before it docked Monday in Saint John used language normally reserved for more exotic locations, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., reported.

Passenger Carl White of Arizona, who was one of 650 passengers aboard, told the CBC he found it puzzling to read the advice: "Be sure in Saint John you don't drink the water, and be careful about the food."

The owner of Billy's Seafood Company in Saint John, Billy Grant, told the broadcaster the newsletter appeared to have been taken seriously by the tourists.

"We haven't seen anybody," he said.

More than 80 cruise ships have docked in St. John this year, and the ships generate about $19 million each year for local businesses, the report said.