CRUISE giant Carnival is suing BP over the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill which it claims hit bookings and sales.

The US corporation, which has its UK headquarters in Southampton, is seeking “unspecified” damages for the loss of revenue and passenger bookings on cruises at ports it serves in Florida, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana.

Carnival also claims the oil spill caused it to “incur increased fuel costs and additional vessel cleaning costs”.

The lawsuit, filed in New Orleans, is against several parties associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, including BP, the well owner, Transocean, which owned the rig, Halliburton, the cement contractor, and Cameron International, which made the blowout preventer Carnival and others claim failed to work properly and prevent the explosion.

Carnival is suing the defendants for negligence Carnival said it decided to sue after a $10m claim to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility set up by BP was denied.

The lawsuit was filed on the deadline for litigation, one-year after the explosion and fire on the Deepwater Horizon that claimed 11 lives and caused five million barrels of oil to be discharged into the gulf, threatening wildlife and businesses in the Gulf area. BP said it will respond to the suits in accordance with the law.

Halliburton said it intended to “vigorously defend” any litigation, fines, and/or penalties.

Transocean declined to comment citing company policy on pending litigation.