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 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.
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 Portsmouth, Hants, has spent two extra nights on board so far 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 tonight (Monday).
Clinical pharmacist Sarah added: “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.”
