And now for some weird cruise news . . .

The owner and operator of  an Australian "boob cruise" charter boat, Dennis Healey, who was below deck with strippers when his boat collided with another smaller vessel, has been ordered to pay an injured woman almost $350,000 in compensation.

The incident involved the 56 foot catamaran "Two Up" which was under charter for a party. The charter boat had 30 passengers aboard including several strippers according to a newspaper in Australia.

An eighteen year old woman was seriously injured when she jumped into the water as the catamaran sailed into the vessel she was on.  

The judge presiding over the trial heard evidence that  the charter boat’s captain was on the lower deck with the topless entertainers when the collision took place. The judge held that "his absence from the helm meant that no one was either manning it or keeping a lookout ahead." 

The young woman suffered lower back injuries which prevented her from working for 6 months. Her mother had to help her with cleaning, washing, shopping and taking her to medical appointments.

In addition to the civil compensation, the distracted captain was was fined $50,000 after pleading guilty to unsafe operation of a boat.