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Aurora boredom
Passengers who have paid up to £40,000 for a 104-day “cruise of a lifetime” – and have spent the last five days going no further than the Isle of Wight – have reportedly been told they will have to wait a further five days before the ship sails.
The P&O ship Aurora was due to begin its Grand Voyage tour on Sunday but has been beset by technical problems.
According to the Daily Mail, cancelling the trip would cost P&O some £40 million and the company is now hoping that “compensation and sympathy” will persuade passengers to accept a shortened trip.
A spokesman is quoted as saying: “It is estimated that it will take until Sunday to complete necessary repairs and test these against the sea. The earliest anticipated departure date for Aurora’s Grand Voyage will therefore be next Tuesday, 18 January.
“Passengers are being invited to stay on board as guests during this period of further work and will be offered a full entertainment programme while the ship remains in Southampton. During this time, passengers will be welcome to disembark and re-embark at their leisure.”
Comedian Tom O’Connor, who has been entertaining the guests, is quoted as saying: “The mood is very up – most of the passengers are British and they are very stoic. It’s nearly like the Blitz; the elements are against us but let’s stick with it.”
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
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