PASSENGERS on a 14-day adventure cruise have had the voyage cancelled after a little too much excitement in the first 24 hours.

The 71 adventure seekers on the Murmansk-registered Alla Tarasova awoke on Friday after their first night afloat to find the 100m vessel adrift in the North Sea without power.

After drifting for 10 hours, during which they enjoyed ``a spectacular display'' by Britain's rescue services, the vessel limped into Peterhead harbour on Friday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for the cruise organisers, Marine Expeditions of Toronto, had said they hoped repairs could be carried out within 24 hours. But on Sunday night the passengers, who had each paid around #3000 for the trip from Leith to Iceland with stops at Orkney and Faroe, were told it had been cancelled.

As they waited at Aberdeen Airport yesterday for a flight to London, Mr Rex Crisp, 74, and his wife, Wyn, 70, said that, although disappointed at being unable to complete the cruise, their brief experience had been ``wonderful''.

They were initially unaware of the problem until helicopters, lifeboats, and other vessels started to arrive.

``None of us felt in danger,'' said Mr Crisp. ``If there had been a swell and the wind had been strong, we would have been very worried. It was quite spectacular. I think the rescue people found it a wonderful opportunity for an exercise. They were winching people and equipment up and down like mad.

``We have been treated very well and each day have been taken out to see different things. Although the ship would probably have been ready today, the trip was cancelled because time would have been too short to really enjoy it.''

Mr Crisp added: ``They have been very good in arranging everything. On the cruise they had expert historians, expert geologists, and ornithologists - that is what makes such a difference.''

Mr And Mrs Crisp are now going to visit their daughter in Canterbury before eventually returning to their home in Woy Woy Bay on the outskirts of Sydney.

Captain Alistair Struthers, principal marine surveyor for the Marine Safety Agency in Aberdeen, said they had not yet been invited back on board the vessel to check that the work required had been carried out.

He said until they had inspected the ship and were satisfied that the repairs had been carried out and that the problems were unlikely to recur, it would not be allowed to leave.

Inchcape Shipping Services (UK), agents for the vessel, have refused to comment on the situation at any stage.

A spokeswoman for Quark Expeditions, a Connecticut-based agency which had passengers on board, confirmed the trip had been cancelled because Marine Expeditions could not guarantee the continuation of the voyage. Their clients would have their money refunded and would be flown home.

Meanwhile, a freighter has left Aberdeen Harbour more than three months after being detained because of a catalogue of defects.

Captain Struthers said the Ambassador 1 was one of the worst cases he had ever seen. The ship had holes in the hull, defective lifeboats, missing fire fighting equipment, a lack of heating, no anchor, and unhygenic conditions in the kitchen and living quarters.

However, new Greek owners took over the vessel, now called Leader, on June 1. They had carried out major repairs, spending a considerable amount of money, said Captain Struthers.

He said it would sail to a Polish shipyard for further work.