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Man charged with rape on board cruise ship

A man will front court on Tuesday accused of raping a woman on a cruise ship off Queensland.

The 33-year-old man was arrested on Monday when P&O; Cruises' Pacific Aria docked at Brisbane's Portside Wharf in Hamilton.

Detectives from the North Brisbane Criminal Investigation Branch charged him with two counts of rape, allegedly committed on Saturday while on board the 1260-guest cruise liner.

A police spokesman said the alleged rapist and victim knew each other but would not reveal their relationship.

A spokesman for Carnival Australia, P&O; Cruises' parent company, said the company asked police to investigate after a woman complained a travelling companion had assaulted her.

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"A cabin was sealed and, having reported the alleged assault to police, we have been assisting them fully in their inquiries," he said, in a statement.

"Care trained staff assisted the female passenger.

"Pacific Aria returned yesterday after a three-night roundtrip cruise from Brisbane."

The accused appeared in Brisbane's Roma Street Magistrates Court on Tuesday, wearing prison browns and no shoes, but did not apply for bail.

He is due to face court again on May 29.