Guernsey steps in for Barbados for family trip

A CRUISE to the Channel Islands is a poor replacement for a week in the Caribbean – but for one family who had to hurriedly plan an alternative holiday, it is better than nothing.

Phil Davies and his wife, children and mother-in-law were supposed to be going to Barbados. Instead, they spent 16 hours on Saturday making a round trip from Dorset to Gatwick.

He said: “It was a difficult day with a lot of very unhappy families, especially with young children looking forward to half-term holidays which have been ruined.”

After queues at check-in, they waited in the departure lounge until two hours after their scheduled flight time before being told to go for lunch.

Mr Davies said: “At 1.45pm, they called our flight. We were delighted, we had some optimism we’d be going.” But then they waited on the plane for four hours while unrelated security problems led to repeated bag searches. There was then a crew change and finally a cancellation.

The family shared a £300 taxi ride back to their home near Shaftesbury and booked a P&O cruise which left last night for Bilbao and Guernsey.

Mr Davies said: “It was frustrating, but at least we’ve gone somewhere.”