Drunk passenger threw up next to us while we were playing scrabble on 'Wetherspoons on Sea' Med cruise from hell: Brit family describe hiding in their cabin as louts ruined £8,000 voyage
Iain and Sally Wright, from Sunderland, stumped up thousands for the voyage which 'looked great for kids' and embarked on a two-week trip across Spain on the MSC Cruises Virtuosa on July 12 alongside their two children, Jack, 11, Molly, 8, and their mother-in-law.
But they endured a holiday from hell after they were surrounded by 'an insane level of drunkeness' from rowdy youths, while Molly suffered an allergic reaction after swimming in a pool covered in black soot.
Mr Wright, 41, an author, said they tried to leave the cruise halfway through when in Majorca after they were sheltering in their rooms to avoid the 'horrible' atmosphere of 'constant swearing' and drunkness which was 'worse than a Wetherspoons'.
One inebriated guest even threw up next to the family's table while they were playing Scrabble.
MSC staff took an hour to clean up the 'smelly mess', Mr Wright claims.
The holiday was further ruined after Jack and Molly returned from the pool the following day 'covered in black soot', which left the eight-year-old needing medical treatment after suffering an allergic reaction.
The family complained to customer servics about the fumes but were told it 'happens sometimes' by staff.
They then spent the remainder of the trip inside their cabin to avoid the 'awful' atmosphere, which resembled an '18 to 30s club'.
Mr Wright said: 'We wanted to book this cruise because we thought it was a family ship. We thought it looked great for kids.
'We were really looking forward to it. My mother-in-law loves cruises and she said she might have one more left in her so for her, this was going to be her last cruise.
'But the level of drunkenness was insane. 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 to 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.
'We were playing Scrabble on the main pool deck when a drunk passenger just walks by and vomits on the floor right next to our table.
'It smelled. It was left there for over an hour. They couldn't get a cleaner. And when you think about the bugs that go around on cruises, this is basic hygiene.'
The Wrights' misery was compounded when Molly was 'covered' in black soot, believed to be 'raining' from the ship's funnels, which left her 'suffering with itching for 24 hours'.
'We were leaving the port and the kids went up to the top deck to see if the water slides were open,' Mr Wright said.
'While they were on that deck, it just rained down black stuff all over them. They came down to tell us and 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.
'Two days later she started itching and broke out in hives so we went to customer services to see the doctor.
'He said it was an allergic reaction to an external substance. They said it was from the fumes because it was in the area where the fumes had touched her skin.
'They gave her hydrocortisone cream. She suffered with itching for 24 hours but it was a result of her being covered in this soot. It's not acceptable.
'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.'
The family were later offered a £9 ticket for a premium show on-board the cruise after raising their complaints.
But Mr Wright wants the cruise line to apologise for the 'disappointing' trip.
'We spent most of the holidays just going out to eat and staying in our cabins because the atmosphere was just awful.
'There were no quiet areas. Everywhere was packed.
'We were looking to disembark halfway through the cruise in Majorca. We felt like we were left with no choice.
'There's a level of basic customer service that we didn't get, whether it's a budget cruise or not.
'We wouldn't step foot on one of their cruises ever again. We got back feeling quite disheartened. It was a lot of money. The kids were disappointed.
'We probably had 12 hours of fun on a two-week cruise. We would love a partial refund because that could go towards booking the holiday that we wanted in the first place.
'They should apologise.'
A MSC Cruises spokesperson said they 'take all guest feedback seriously and regret that the Wright family's experience did not meet their expectations.
'As we have not received any additional communication from them since then, our Customer Service team will now reach out to the Wright family directly to ensure their concerns are properly reviewed and addressed.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The staggeringly expensive water toys favoured by the mega-wealthy - including a jet pack that costs £22,500 and an £819 sea scooter
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Want to 'fly' through the water? The world's first underwater jetpack lets you do exactly that - if you've got £22,500 to hand. The CudaJetis set to be the hottest new plaything for the super rich, particularly when they're sailing around on superyachts and luxury cruises. It's just one of several underwater toys aimed at children and youngsters - for which buyers will have to fork out a small fortune. The device is described as 'the world's first luxury underwater jetpack, engineered for superyachts, private islands and elite divers' and was invented by CudaJet CEO Archie O'Brien. It claims to give wearers 'unrivalled agility and predator-like maneuverability' in the water, allowing them to 'glide effortlessly'. This 'masterpiece of precision engineering' is also billed as a toy for the extremely wealthy - but even those with deep pockets face a three-month waitlist for orders. According to The Times, less than 100 units have been sold but the device has proven popular among sporty superyacht owners who enjoy playing with the newest innovations. The CudaJet jetpack propels users forwards through the water at up to three metres per second, generating 40kg of thrust despite weighing in at just 13.5kg. Wealthy families who enjoy sailing the high seas with their children will undoubtedly be looking to get their hands on the gadget, but may have to satisfy their young ones with luxury maritime technology already available on the market. There's no shortage of highly expensive water toys for the offspring of the ultra rich, from electric surfboards that can cost thousands of pounds to the most expensive water gun money can buy. Electric hydrofoils and surfboards For example, the Flite Jet C eFoil is priced at £19,000. This surfboard-like device uses an electric motor and a hydrofoil to lift the board and rider above the water's surface, letting them glide through the air. Meanwhile, the Lampuga AIR 4 Jetboard is an inflatable electric surfboard billed for beginners and families, with prices starting at an eye-watering £7,564. The jetboard can reach impressive speeds of up to 53km, with a 3.6 kWh battery lasting up to 60 minutes. It also holds the Guinness World Record, after the company's partner Erik Gurzan from jetboard. EXPERIENCE completed a 46.98km journey from Denmark to Germany, across the Baltic Sea, on the jetboard without dismounting a single time. Erik set the record for the longest distance ever covered on an electric jetboard, and completed the trip within one hour and 51 minutes. Seascooters Seascooters are a popular toy, especially among children, as they help propel you through the water in a similar fashion to a jetpack. Nautica Seascooters are impressive devices, pulling you through the water at a top speed of three miles per hour while being lightweight and easy to use. The Sublue underwater seascooter that propels users through the water in a similar fashion to a jetpack The powerful device is priced at £819 - a drop in the ocean compared to CudaJet's offering. But while the Nautica Marine 300 Seascooter is pricey, it is actually at the lower end of the price spectrum when it comes to these high-powered water toys. Take the Sublue Underwater Scooter for example, a professional-grade device boasting a top speed of 4.5 miles per hour as you hold on to its handles just like riding a scooter or motorcycle. This toy will set you back by £1,219 and features three speeds, an ultra-quiet motor that won't disturb marine life, smart connectivity and data sharing to communicate depth, temperature, depth change rate, and location data, and meets 10 safety standards. Sublue also have a seascooter designed in collaboration with luxury swimwear brand Vilebrequin, which features colourful sea turtles printed all over the device for a child-friendly design. It could be yours for just over £200 extra, at £1,490. Inflatables and towable toys Inflatable banana boats £1694 Shop Inflatable water toys are always a hit, but things look a little different when you own a superyacht. Forget the flamingo-shaped pool rings and inflatable paddling pools - for the hyper wealthy, FunAir inflatables are where it's at. FunAir makes custom inflatable slides for yachts and superyachts, beloved by celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Robin Thicke. While prices for the customisable slides, which can be made to include logos and personal branding, it's safe to assume they aren't exactly affordable. However, customers can own a small slice of FunAir luxury with the company's inflatable water mat for about £750. Towable inflatables are also a favourite for pulling behind yachts or speedboats, whether it's for cruising or wave-riding fun. A six-person i nflatable banana boat can cost up to £2,012 on Amazon, whilst an acid-blue-and-green-coloured Jobe towable that fits four people will set you back by just under £500. Snorkeling and diving gear £49.99 Shop Snorkelling gear is generally inexpensive, but forking out under £50 for a full-face snorkelling mask seems like a bargain for the wealthy BLU3 Nomad Diving System £2,526 Shop But for the more serious scuba divers among them, a BLU3 Nomad Diving System is the toy of the moment - if you have £2,526 to spare No holiday out on the open water would be complete without snorkeling and diving, and the right luxury gear is an absolute must. Snorkeling gear is relatively inexpensive, but for the best money can buy, the Ocean Reef Aria Junior full-face snorkelling mask is a must-have (£48.99). But for young ones whose passion is scuba diving, then the £2,526 BLU3 Nomad Diving System is the toy of the moment. The system, which has been described by users as providing an 'out-of-this-world experience', allows you to dive to a maximum depth of 30 feet while delivering compressed air from the surface through a hose. Users must be of eight years or older, but must be restricted to diving in a swimming pool only, in water shallow enough that they can stand with their head above the surface. In order to dive outside of the pool, users must be 10 years or older, and those under 18 must have parental or guardian supervision at all times. Kayaks, paddle boards and water guns Wealthy children who love kayaking or paddle boarding would also have their parents shell out £1,000 for top-of-the-line equipment, such as the Jobe Yarra Elite inflatable paddle board package. Finally, water guns are some of the most fun children can have - and the wealthy would spare no expense to get their offspring only the best, most powerful water blasters on the market. A collaboration between SpyraThree and streetwear label Supreme culminates in this £578 water blaster, sold only on luxury fashion website Farfetch.
Telegraph
30 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Britons desert UK stores for tax-free EU shopping
Britons are abandoning UK stores for tax-free shopping in Europe amid a boom in tourists travelling abroad to buy high-end goods. UK shoppers have spent 16pc more on tax-free shopping in the EU in 2025 so far compared to the same period last year, new figures from the Association of International Retail (AIR) show. It follows a trend of higher spending in the EU after Brexit allowed UK shoppers to take advantage of the VAT-free shopping scheme across the Continent. Since 2021, British tourists visiting the EU have been able to claim VAT back on their shopping under the bloc's tax-free shopping scheme. Last year, they spent £742m on tax-free shopping in the EU compared to £527m in 2022. Derrick Hardman, AIR's chairman, said UK consumers had 'worked out that the tax rebates they can get on the Continent more than outweigh the costs of hopping on the Eurostar or taking a cheap short-haul flight somewhere'. He said the figures showed that 'a new market in shopping-led tourism has emerged', adding: 'It's sad to see British shoppers taking their business elsewhere.' It will add to pressure on Labour to consider reinstating the UK's VAT-free shopping scheme for overseas visitors in an effort to level the playing field with the EU. In April, Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, opened the door to a rethink of the scheme. While the EU extended tax-free shopping to UK tourists in 2021, the UK scrapped its own scheme the same year. It means that since Brexit, overseas visitors have not been able to claim VAT back when they purchase items in Britain. Campaigners have argued that the decision deters around two million visitors from coming to the UK every year. Companies such as handbag maker Burberry and high-end department store Harrods have claimed that the policy not only deters spending in UK stores, but disproportionately hurts domestic luxury companies. That is because they say that shoppers are more likely to spend on the home-grown brands in the country they are visiting. Mr Hardman said: 'It makes no sense for the UK to remain the only destination in Europe not offering tax-free shopping.' He suggested the UK should seek to lure shoppers away from EU countries with more tourist-friendly policies to boost its economy: 'Thanks to our position outside the EU, we now have a unique chance to reverse the policy of the last government and become the world's shopping capital – offering tax rebates for both EU and non-EU shoppers.' AIR analysis shows that providing tax rebates for EU shoppers into the UK alone would provide a £3.65bn boost to the economy every year and generate over £500m in additional VAT alone for the Treasury. Sir Rocco Forte, the chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels, said: 'We see in our hotels that foreign visitors who would come for lengthy stays in the UK and return to us laden down with parcels are increasingly cutting short their stays and spending time in Europe, where they can still shop tax-free. 'The decision of the last government to scrap tax-free shopping, which had been available for decades, makes no sense and should be reversed immediately by any government serious about promoting economic growth.' A Treasury spokesman said: 'The UK is one of the most visited countries in the world with international tourism driving billions into our economy. 'We are supporting the continued growth of this industry and will be launching a National Visitor Economy Strategy this autumn to help meet our ambition to welcome 50 million international visitors a year to the UK by 2030.'
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Pushing airport expansion while rail travel languishes – so much for Labour's green agenda
August is peak flying time, and airports are on many minds. The government has signalled its support for colossal expansions, whose extra flights would bust its carbon pledges. The excuse is that supertechnology will magic away the extra CO2 pumped into the atmosphere, though it must know that clean, green flying is still futurology. Here's the pity of it: until now this government has rightly boasted of its green credentials, making massive investments in sustainable energy and retro-insulating cold homes. Expanding air travel is not on any green agenda. Heathrow has just submitted proposals for a £50bn third runway, as approved by Labour in 2009 and the Tories who voted it through parliament in 2018. Covid applied the brakes but now Heathrow is back with gold-plated, 'shovel-ready' plans. Its owners, including Qatar, Singapore and Saudi Arabia, expect the planning bill to prevent newts or judicial reviews blocking the runway. Their pitch to an investment-hungry government is that expanding Europe's busiest airport would create 100,000 new jobs, propelling growth with 750 extra daily flights. Flying gets a green light from the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander: she agreed to double the size of Luton airport, favours Gatwick's second runway for 100,000 more flights and gives Stansted's expansion a fair wind. These allow a 70% increase in flights above 2018 levels, and cancel out all the carbon savings from the government's clean power plan. Rachel Reeves promised to be 'Britain's first green chancellor', but her plans live or die on growth, so billions in private investment is hard to resist. But beyond construction, the growth-potential claims for extra flights look highly dubious. The promised global 'connectivity' imagines business people zipping into Britain with briefcases full of contracts. But that's not who these extra flyers will be. Most will be frequent flyers flying more frequently, not for business but for leisure, according to the New Economics Foundation and Possible, the climate campaign. National Travel and Civil Aviation Authority passenger surveys show only one in 14 UK passengers are business travellers. The pandemic showed that meeting online saves money and time; business travel has already peaked. Would extra flights bring in tourist income? No, 70% of flights are British tourists off abroad to spend vastly more than foreigners spend here. Of extra flights in 20 years, 83% were taken by already frequent flyers, mostly for leisure. Growth will not be from more families taking an annual holiday: half the population doesn't fly in any year, while just 15% consume 70% of flights. Nearly a third are 'ultra-frequent flyers' taking six or more journeys a year. Instead of these heaviest users paying more for their pollution, airlines reward frequent flyers. The Flying Fair report from the New Economics Foundation suggests imposing a high levy on those flying six or more times a year, not added to ticket prices but raised in tax returns. That makes the cost of their excessive air travel highly visible, and could raise £6bn a year, while cutting aviation CO2 by 28%. Newly nationalised trains would gain from disincentivising flight. But UK prices are a bizarre deterrent. I'm planning to go to Edinburgh next week – a train journey I love. Checking prices, I found a £29.99 flight each way, while LNER costs £181.69 return. France has banned domestic flights where trains can do the journey in less than two and a half hours and so should we: start by banning airlines charging less than rail. Switch the 39m domestic journeys being made annually by plane to train. The good news is the extra potential capacity in the Channel tunnel, which could be realised with a little investment. Twelve trains an hour run each way, but the tunnel could run 2.5 times more, and prices would fall. That's where investment should go, instead of to airports, as new European routes open up. Yes, it takes longer. It means adding train time to the concept of a holiday. But if it were cheaper, what luxury it would be compared with the hell of holiday airports and flights that don't land you in city centres. Climate damage is the real cost of avoidable flying. The chancellor says: 'Expansion must be delivered in line with UK's legal, environmental and climate obligations.' But the Climate Change Committee (CCC), the government's statutory adviser, warns that airport expansion would breach UK carbon budgets for net zero emissions by 2050. The aviation industry and government claim that wonder technology will deliver carbon-free flying with electric planes, sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and carbon capture. None is anywhere near available, says the CCC, which expects 17% SAFs by 2040. It advises no extra flying before 2030, and only 2% more by 2035, to allow time for new technology to be developed. Let's hope clean flight arrives soon, but it's not here yet: currently, suppliers must only guarantee that SAFs comprises 2% of the total. Here's the honesty test for those claiming carbon-neutral flight is imminent: agree to no extra flying until it arrives. The government's mood music is all pro-flying, not urging climate-conscious travel. To change habits and attitudes, it should start by banning frequent flyer bonuses. Why allow private jets? Seat for seat they are 30 times more polluting, paying less tax as a proportion of ticket price, as was exposed by Possible's Jetting away with it report. The government's airport policy will reveal its seriousness on the climate crisis. Politically, it shows whether Labour is sufficiently alarmed by serious threats from the left, from Greens, Liberal Democrats and Jeremy Corbyn revivalists pledged to invest in trains, not airports. But refusing airport expansion allows Tories and Faragistes to add those lost foreign billions to their dishonest tally of net zero costs. A YouGov poll found that 61% of people regard airport expansion as the wrong priority, alongside mayors Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan. But the Treasury's dilemma is obvious: climate or cash? Its answer should also be clear: just call a moratorium until green flying arrives. Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist
