A BRIT family have slammed their nightmare £8,000 cruise after drunk passengers turned it into a holiday from hell – likening the ship to a floating Wetherspoons.
Iain and Sally Wright, from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, said their two young kids were left covered in “black soot” from the ship’s funnels – triggering an allergic reaction in their daughter.
The Wrights were left ‘disappointed’ after their two-week holiday on MSC Cruises VirtuosaKennedy News and Media
Kennedy NewsRowdy passengers even threw up on board while the family were trying to enjoy a game of Scrabble[/caption]
Kennedy News and MediaIain claims the cruise was filled with drunk youngsters[/caption]
The couple boarded the MSC Cruises Virtuosa with their two children and mother-in-law on July 12 for a two-week trip across Spain.
They thought the ship – billed as “family-friendly” – would be perfect for their son Jack, 11, and daughter Molly, 8.
But soon after boarding, Iain, a 41-year-old author, claimed the “level of drunkenness was insane”.
He said: “It was worse than a Wetherspoons. It would take you half an hour to get a drink. It was just horrendous.
“It felt like an 18-30s club at times. If you were by the pool, you’d just hear constant swearing and people getting louder through the day.
“We just thought ‘what have we spent our money on?’ It became like Fawlty Towers.”
On one occasion, Iain said a drunk guest threw up next to the family’s table while they were playing Scrabble.
After complaining to MSC staff, he said it took over an hour to mop up the “smelly” mess.
Things took a turn for the worse the next day when kids Jack and Molly went on the top deck to see if the water slides were open.
They returned “covered in black soot” that had spouted from the ship’s funnels, according to their furious dad.
Kennedy News and MediaThanks to rowdy passengers, the family spent the rest of the trip in their cabin[/caption]
Iain said: “Jack’s skin was covered in black stuff, Molly’s swimming costume was stained all over her and it was on her arms.
“We went down to guest services and told them our kids have been covered in the black soot from the engine I think and she said ‘yeah that happens sometimes when we pull away from a port’.
“She said we can make a claim about the damaged costume.
“While we were there, there were other people complaining to say they’d been covered in the black soot too.”
Kennedy NewsA rash on Molly’s arm which the family claim was caused by ‘black soot’ from the ship’s funnels[/caption]
Kennedy NewsJack was also left covered with soot, Iain claims[/caption]
Kennedy News‘Soot’ on Jack’s back[/caption]
Iain said Molly started itching and broke out in hives two days later.
A doctor confirmed she’d had an allergic reaction to the fumes – and prescribed hydrocortisone cream to ease the itching.
Iain said: “We get accidents happen but customer services just didn’t care. They acted like we were the problem for wasting their time. Their only intention was to disprove your complaint.”
Iain claims the family were offered a measly £9 ticket to a premium onboard show after raising their complaints.
The family said they spent the rest of the trip inside their cabin due to the “awful” atmosphere on the ship.
MSC Cruises said they “regretted” that the family’s experience did not meet expectations, adding that they would be reaching out to ensure their “concerns are properly reviewed and addressed”.
The family-of-four had been looking forward to the cruiseKennedy News and Media Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
