NYE in queue

A NEW Year’s Eve island party billed the “celebration of a lifetime” was a “shemozzle” for a couple stranded without transport for hours.

About 2500 enjoyed the annual White Party at McLaren’s Landing but Gold Coast pair Mick Sherry and Loren Caban were among a dozen who bought $160 tickets and never made it.

They ended up spending three-and-a-half hours queuing for boats on the biggest night of the year before finally giving up about 10.30pm.

Mr Sherry and Miss Caban were among 35 left when organisers told them they had a fast boat which could take 20.

The rest were offered refunds, he said.

Mr Sherry, 27, said they had turned up an hour early for their scheduled 8pm boat departure from Marina Mirage to McLaren’s Landing but missed a spot.

Mr Sherry said ticketholders had to designate a departure time upon purchase but too many who missed their afternoon trips had come late.

Tickets stipulate those who miss their slot won’t be allowed on later boats — Mr Sherry said he believed organisers didn’t stick to the rule.

Mr Sherry said it ruined his night and he wouldn’t consider going again: “It was a shemozzle. It just seemed really badly organised. No one seemed to know what was going on and no one could tell us anything.

“Security kept saying ‘Hang on for the next boat, it’s not far away’.”

Organisers refunded their $160 on the spot and gave them another $50 on top each, telling them sorry and to go buy a bottle of champagne, Mr Sherry said.

“We had a plan for what was going to happen and I get that things go wrong but to get no information was really frustrating,” Mr Sherry said.

They ended up going to Surfers Paradise beach for the midnight fireworks.

The Bulletin sent questions to an email listed for the White Party, but did not receive responses yesterday.