Racism row erupts as captain attacks 'Germanic' antics of cruise passengers vying for sunbeds

Indeed, the practice is so widespread it has become the basis of a long-standing national joke.

But some cruise ship passengers didn't see the funny side when the British captain came over the Tannoy to lambast such "Germanic behaviour".

They accused Christopher Wells of racism and reported him to human rights watchdogs.

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Now the Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched an inquiry into claims that he insulted the German nation, while the 52-year-old has been forced to apologise for causing offence with his light-hearted comments.

The storm blew up after passengers became angry at the lack of available sunbeds on P&O's 77,000-ton Oceana liner during a 15-day cruise of the Caribbean last month.

Amid complaints that holidaymakers were hogging loungers by using towels, books, bags and clothes to reserve their place, Capt Wells put a 20-minute limit on sunbeds being left unoccupied.

He made several announcements to try to end the so-called "sunbed wars" but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Eventually the captain – who has a German wife, Hedda – told the ship's 2,000 passengers: "We don't want that kind of Germanic behaviour here!"

One female holidaymaker said: "There were enough loungers for everyone, provided they were not reserved when not in use. But this made no difference.

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"Crew members did their best, sometimes removing the towels, which were P&O property. But then passengers reserved the sunbeds with their own items."

The passenger said some frustrated holidaymakers began moving items from sunbeds when 20 minutes were up.

"This led to heated arguments and complaints," she said. "Some people nearly came to blows."

The captain asked passengers several times not to reserve sunbeds, but was ignored.

"We were shocked to hear him say over the ship's speakers, 'We don't want that kind of Germanic behaviour here!'

"I reckon that kind of racist remark is illegal. Capt Wells clearly belongs to the Prince Philip school of diplomacy."

She said Capt Wells – since promoted to command the Queen Mary 2 – was dubbed "Mr Bean" by the ship's comedian over his similarities to Rowan Atkinson, and the name had stuck.

Most of the passengers on the trip to Barbados, Antigua, Mexico and Grand Cayman were British and none was believed to be German.

But the captain's remarks are said to have upset the ship's German-born receptionist Maren Reichel.

She told one passenger: "He was wrong to call it 'Germanic behaviour', since it is clearly British behaviour as well. He doesn't seem to like Germans."

In an attempt to defuse the row, P&O issued a statement from Ms Reichel: "I did not take any offence. The remark was said in jest and I and other passengers found it amusing."

A spokesman for P&O said: "Captain Wells apologises unreservedly for any offence caused."