A federal court jury on June 6th quickly dismissed a $100 million lawsuit against Norwegian Cruise Line by two dozen passengers who were aboard the cruise ship Norwegian Dawn when it was battered by a fierce storm two years ago.

The vessel had encountered heavy weather -- with what was described as a 70-foot rogue wave and gale-force winds that smashed windows and flooded more than 60 cabin -- while returning to New York from a cruise to the Bahamas in April 2005.

The U.S. National Transporation Safety Board subsequently ruled that though the severe weather made the voyage unpleasant,
"the safety and integrity of the ship was in no way compromised," and that NCL acted appropriately throughout.

Nevertheless, passengers who contended they had been traumatized by the cruise filed suit in U.S. District Court in Miami. Following a three-week trial, the jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning their verdict for NCL.

"We are pleased with the jury's thoughtful and reasoned decision," said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. "We have always maintained that this lawsuit existed only in the minds of the
plaintiffs' lawyers and this verdict confirms our belief."