| A plumbing problem on board the MV Funchal — due to leave for the Baltic today — has left between eight and 10 cabins out of service for the next few days.
The occupants of the cabins are now being told they will be considered for compensation on a case-by-case basis.
One of the passengers affected told the Tele, “I’m heading down to the travel agents at the moment, trying to sort out a last-minute thing as an alternative.
“We were due to be picked up at 11.30 this morning, and leaving Dundee on the Funchal at 5pm today, but my wife got a phone call yesterday to say there was a plumbing problem with the cabins.
“They said there were about 10 cabins unserviceable, and unfortunately ours is among them.
“They were full of apologies, but it has been a bit of a blow. We booked our holiday back in September and have been looking forward to it since.”
The 9500 tonne Funchal is a regular visitor to Dundee, and has just arrived after a six-day cruise around the Norwegian fjords.
The 12-day cruise leaving this evening visits Tallinn, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki and St Petersburg before returning to Dundee.
Emma Ward, cruise manager with tour operators Travelscope, today apologised to those affected, and said they were working to make alternative holiday arrangements for them.
“Unfortunately, we have had to phone a few passengers to say they couldn’t travel today,” she confirmed.
“A few cabins have a plumbing problem, which needs sorting out in the next few days. It is nothing major with the ship, we just felt that people shouldn’t have to travel in those cabins.
“We are in the process of ringing all the people affected to offer them alternative cruises. If they can’t do that, they will get a refund, and we would look at compensation individually.”
The company said it had taken 4000 people on holiday from Scotland this year alone. They will continue to carry passengers from Scotland in 2007. |
