From Luxury Cruise To A Freezing Sports Hall

This weekend it has been reported in the press and on several Facebook groups that I am part of, that some cruise passengers have been forced to stay overnight in a sports hall in Monte Carlo.

Apparently, unforecast rough weather in the port this weekend, which prevented passengers from P&O’s Azura returning to the ship from the port due to safety reasons as I believe she was tendered.  As it was the height of the tourism season in Monte Carlo, there were next to no hotel beds available for the guests, so the cruise line took the decision to put them all up in makeshift beds in a sports hall in Monte Carlo.  According to what I have been reading this morning, nearly 1000 guests were affected.

First thing Sunday morning it was deemed safe enough for the guests to return to the ship and she sailed on to her next port to Cartagena.

I think there may be a few complaints when the guests return from their holiday.  But is it Justified?

Guest safety has to be the number one priority then cruising, especially when using a tender to get to and from the ship.  Rough seas, which might not always seem rough to the naked eye, but guests at a high risk during this process which they get from the lifeboat back to the ship (or visa versa).  Normal procedure would be to book them in a hotel for the night, but in your peak summer season where most hotels will be full, how do you then accommodate an extra 1000 people for the night?

I personally think the cruise line did the best job that they could in a bad situation that was way beyond their control.

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments box below.