ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Like so many visitors to Alaska, Phyllis McNamara was eager for a seven-day cruise along a majestic stretch of coast that is teeming with whales, bears and glaciers.

But the Indianapolis woman and her friends were among hundreds of tourists who had their vacation plans scuttled when a mechanical problem aboard the 965-foot Millennium forced the cruise operator to cancel six Alaska sailings.

“This is becoming just a nightmare,” said McNamara, 68, who went ahead with a planned land excursion in place of the cruise.

Cynthia Martinez, a spokeswoman for Royal Cari...