A THOUSAND British holidaymakers were left stranded in the Caribbean because of America’s attack on Venezuela.
And many of them enjoyed an unexpected extension to their break on a luxury cruise liner.
As the UK shivered in sub-zero temperatures one holidaymaker posted online with the hashtag ‘Stranded in Paradise’ and said: “We know exactly where we’d rather be stuck.”
Three airlines carrying around 1,000 P&O cruise passengers from the UK to Barbados to join their ship were forced to turn back over the Atlantic because of the attack.
As they returned to Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester airports it meant the holidaymakers they were due to pick up in Barbados to bring back to the UK had to stay longer in the Caribbean.
Many had another extra night or two on P&O’s Arvia, the newest ship in the fleet which caters for 5,200 passengers across 15 decks with four swimming pools and 30 bars and restaurants.
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Some headed straight for the bar to make the most of their extended stay on board.
But others were less happy because of important deadlines back home.
Sarah Coffin, 52, of PortsmouthHants, has spent two extra nights on board with her husband and their two sons.
She revealed one son has had to borrow a laptop to complete an important university deadline and the other is anxious to get home in time for a BTEC exam.
Sarah said: “The first thing we heard was an announcement by the captain on Saturday morning saying TUI had made the decision to return their flights back to the UK due the Venezuelan issue.
“We were told that later in the day we would be assigned a cabin for Saturday night.
“As other flights were due in, some people had to move cabins. This took all day with cabin assignment starting at 7.30pm deck by deck.
“At 10pm we were still waiting. To be quite honest it was chaos.
“Guests were starting to drink and be merry and why not? They are on holiday.
“At 11pm there were 12 or 13 cabins unassigned. Once again P&O staff were few in attendance. I took it upon myself to go around the group and ask for cabin numbers and what cabins were needed.
“Once the staff were back in the room I gave them all the info I had managed to get. This did help them greatly.”
The family finally got into their new cabin just after midnight and are hoping to finally fly back to the UK on Monday night.
Joanna Clarke and Chris Diver, of Brighton, have also had their dream holiday on the Arvia disrupted.
They joined the ship in Antigua on Saturday, December 27, for a two-week cruise – but have been stranded in Barbados since Saturday.
They have missed out on visiting Martinique and also fear they won’t get to St Kitts.
Joanna said: “We aren’t going anywhere because there are people still on board who had finished their holiday and were due to fly home but their flights were cancelled.
“So every evening we are sailing in to Barbados, dropping people off then in the morning sailing 30 nautical miles back out to sea to wait until we can drop the next people off.
“This has been going on since Saturday.
“We’ve missed Martinique today [Monday] and we’re likely to miss St Kitts tomorrow [Tuesday].”
She continued: “The staff on the ship have been absolutely lovely but the communication from above has been non-existent.
“No one’s actually telling us what’s happening. I think if someone just told me I’d feel better about it.
“Are we going to miss the next three ports? Because if that’s the case, then they can give us something towards our next cruise because we didn’t book this holiday to sit in the middle of the ocean day after day.”
Shedding light on the reality of the situation, she added: “Since Saturday it has been too hectic on board, people are fed up and we just don’t know what is going to happen for the rest of our holiday.
“I know some people might say, ‘poor you, you are stuck in Barbados’, but it isn’t as much fun as it might sound.”
Clinical pharmacist Sarah also said: “I just want to get home. Even though my employer is accommodating I have to make the time up and no doubt it is having an impact on my team at home which isn’t fair on them.
“There are long lines at reception, lots of people needing to get home.
“I would say there are more fed up people than ones enjoying a longer holiday.
“I am disappointed with communication from P&O over the last few days.
“It was a lovely holiday until Saturday.”
Widespread air traffic chaos was triggered by America’s shock attack on Venezuela when 150 military planes launched a blitz as part of the audacious plan to seize President Nicolas Maduro.
To make sure civilian planes were not caught up in the drama, America’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued emergency NOTAMs prohibiting airlines from entering Venezuelan airspace and the ‘Caribbean Corridor’.
A NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) is an official advisory issued by aviation authorities to inform pilots and airlines of temporary changes or hazards that could impact flight safety.
The FAA’s NOTAM caused widespread disruption with 300 flights cancelled at Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and many others at airports across the region with flights further afield also affected.
It also meant that three of TUI’s Boeing 787 aircraft which had taken off from Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester carrying passengers for P&O cruises had to turn back while over the Atlantic.
Flights from other countries transporting cruise passengers who had paid around £6,000 for their holidays were also disrupted, meaning a total of around 5,000 customers were affected.
A spokesperson for P&O Cruises said: “Following the disruption and impact caused by the international air restrictions, all P&O Cruises guests on Arvia Caribbean cruise holidays now have confirmed flight details to/from Barbados.
“P&O Cruises has worked tirelessly over the weekend with our charter carriers to arrange new flights for a total of 5000 inbound and outbound guests.”