Mutiny on the vomit cruise
Seasick passengers’ voyage hell
A CRUISE ship faced mutiny after seasick passengers were told they could not dock due to rough sea conditions.
Almost three-quarters of people aboard the vintage MV Balmoral spent the coastal day trip vomiting, it was claimed.
But some three hours into the trip they were told that, instead of docking in North Wales as planned, they had to sail on. One passenger said: “As we got close to Llandudno the captain advised that, due to the poor weather conditions, we could not get off there and we would carry on up the Menai Strait.
“The announcement caused a mutiny. People told the captain he’d better turn the boat round.”
Almost 400 people paid £34 each for the trip from Liverpool.
The unnamed passenger went on: “The boat was tilting and tipping so violently, approximately three-quarters of those aboard were seasick. Crew were collecting the numerous sick bags in black bin bags.”
Erica Thompson, 45, of Bromborough, Wirral, said some had wanted to get a train from Llandudno, rather than sail back.
She said: “People were so ill. It was supposed to be a scenic cruise along the coast. All we got was sea, sky, sea, sky, as we bounced furiously up and down.”
She added after “uproar”, they were told the ship would turn back. Paramedics were waiting to help a woman who collapsed.
Ship owners White Funnel Ltd said: “We realise passengers suffered some discomfort during Saturday’s sailing which we regret. The shipping forecast indicated the sea state would be suitable for sailing but conditions proved to be significantly worse than expected. The ship was not in danger at any time.”