Aug. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Forty passengers on P&O Cruises Australia's Pacific Sun were hurt when the ship encountered severe weather between New Zealand and Vanuatu, the company said.

The injuries took place when the vessel ``rolled sharply'' in 7-meter (23-foot) swells and winds of 50 knots (93 kilometers per hour), P&O Cruises Australia said in an e-mailed statement.

Two passengers were taken off the ship for treatment, one with a fractured pelvis and the other with broken ribs, Antony Fisk, a spokesman for the cruise line, a unit of Miami-based Carnival Corp., said today in a telephone interview from Australia. Four people on the Pacific Sun had less serious fractures, while others sustained cuts and bruises, he said.

The passengers were hurt two days ago when the weather unexpectedly worsened as the Pacific Sun was headed back to Auckland to complete the eight-day cruise, the company said.

The vessel, carrying 1,732 passengers and 671 crew members, arrived in Auckland at about 2 p.m. local time today, Fisk said. The ship was 600 kilometers (373 miles) north of Auckland when the storm struck, he said. The cruise was due to end yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Camilla Hall in London at chall24@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: August 1, 2008 07:05 EDT