Passengers have told of their nightmare ferry trip. Picture: Wikicommons/Megasam4256
IT gives a whole new meaning to the term mini-break.
Holidaymakers aboard a ferry bound for Amsterdam endured a 13-hour delay in high seas – but spent just six minutes in the city before they were told they had to return home.
Passengers set out on the DFDS Seaways mini-cruise from Tyneside's ferry port in North Shields, UK last Friday afternoon.
But storms and high seas meant that what should have been an overnight crossing took a gruelling 30 hours.
Then, almost as soon as they set foot on dry – and stable – land, they were ushered on to coaches to catch the return ferry from the Hook of Holland.
They got back to the North East in the early hours of Monday, having travelled 45 hours for a few minutes in Amsterdam.
Passenger Mark Dunn, an amusement arcade manager from North Shields, said: "We spent about six minutes in the ferry terminal car park in Amsterdam before they took us on to coaches. I wish I'd never bothered. I think I've done more miles than Judith Chalmers."
Max Foster, DFDS Seaways UK passenger director, said: "I would like to apologise to all passengers who were affected by our delayed mini-cruise sailing on our Amsterdam route.
"The delay was caused by unpredicted severe adverse weather conditions on the North Sea.
"Our primary focus at DFDS Seaways is always on passenger safety. Our crew and shore-based team worked hard to ensure our passengers were able to make their way home as quickly and safely as possible whilst endeavouring to keep them informed of the situation throughout.
"As a result, our passengers disembarked on Sunday morning and were transported to the Hook of Holland to travel back to Harwich via another ferry service. They then continued by coach back to Newcastle.
"We have offered all passengers affected by the delayed sailing the opportunity to take their mini cruise at another time convenient to them."
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