US cruiseship operator Haimark Line has cancelled sailings after filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this month.

Its one vessel, the 210-passenger Saint Laurent (built 2001), will not be taking passengers until at least 11 December, USA Today said.

Haimark president Hans Rood told the newspaper: "We are working hard to get the ship back in her sailing schedule and first need to lift Haimark Line out of Chapter 11.

"Negotiations