Chinese red tape wrecked dream holiday cruise
ACOUPLE missed out on their dream wedding anniversary cruise after being refused entry to China when they landed at the airport.
Kate Hayes, 67, and her husband Ray Hayes, 72, from Skelmersdale, had planned the trip of a lifetime for their golden wedding – but they didn’t even get to leave Beijing Airport.
The couple, who have four grandchildren, spent £4,500 on a trip taking in Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore.
But, when they landed in Beijing on October 3 ahead of joining the ship, they were refused entry by border officials.
Mum-of-three Kate said she and Ray were treated “like criminals” and stuck in the airport for 18 hours before being forced to fly straight home and miss their dream cruise.
Kate said: “We were going to do three days in Beijing and then we were going to board the cruise.
“When we got to the desk, after waiting in the queue, they took our photos and looked at our passports.
“They escorted us to the side and there were a lot of people sitting down and they told us we hadn’t been given entry.
“There were fellow passengers who were saying we weren’t getting into Beijing.
“We sat for a few hours with no advice or anything.
“An immigration officer said that they didn’t have a reason (for refusing us entry to the country) – they don’t have to give us one.
“We were sat in an airport for 18 hours. There were quite a few people from Liverpool.
“You’re allowed to stay in the airport for 24 hours, but we were told that after that we were going to be arrested.”
Kate said: “Panic set in then – everyone started trying to get flights. We tried to go to the next stop where the ship was going to be in Japan.”
However, flights to Japan to meet the ship at its next stop would have cost the couple hundreds of pounds – plus the cost of transfers and accommodation.
The couple, who booked their holiday through Iglu Cruises, had paid extra for excursions once they were on board the ship.
They had planned to spend three days in China before the ship set sail, exploring the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.
They claim they were treated appallingly by airport staff, with Kate telling the Advertiser: “They were so bloody arrogant.
“They were smirking – we were treated like criminals.
“There were wives without their husbands, one guy’s son was getting married in Beijing this week and they weren’t letting him in.”
She added: “The security had us up against the wall saying don’t move, passing our passports around and laughing at us.
“It was an awful experience.”
They fear they will also have lost all the money spent on their trip, which was due to start in Beijing and end in Singapore.
Kate and Ray were forced to transfer their flight home from Singapore to an immediate flight back to the UK from Beijing.
Ray claims Iglu have told the couple they will receive no refund for their ordeal.
He said: “We will get no money back as far as they’re concerned because it’s a government decision.”
A spokesperson for the cruise company said: “Exact details are still emerging, but Iglu is working with partners and the authorities to ascertain a clear understanding of the circumstances.
“Iglu continues to liaise with the affected parties. Iglu is making arrangements for a goodwill gesture of £250pp to be provided to their customers affected by the incident.”