There have been many tales of woe from holidaymakers stranded abroad because of last week”s flight disruption caused by the volcanic ash from Iceland, but the Beveridge family from East Wemyss have a much happier story to tell.
They enjoyed an extra five days’ holiday courtesy of Thomsons and have nothing but praise for the way they were treated by the company.
“They were fantastic, the crew and staff just couldn’t do enough for everyone on board,” said 40-year-old Alice Beveridge, who was on holiday with her husband Derek (40), daughter Mairianne (16) and son Grant (15).
The Beveridges flew from Glasgow to Madeira for a week’s all-inclusive cruise on the Island Escape around the Canaries on April 12, and should have returned seven days later.
When flights were cancelled, the family and fellow passengers wondered what would happen. However, they needn’t have worried, as Alice said.
“Some passengers were due to fly home from Tenerife on the Friday we were the Monday from Madeira but with no flights arriving or departing, Thomson’s decided to sail the ship back to the UK.
“There were about 1700 cruise passengers and the captain took about another 300 people who were stranded in Madeira on board as well.
“He was a Scot and said he had tried to get us to a Scottish port but had to settle for Falmouth in Cornwall.”
Alice, a business manager with Fife Council’s education service, said, “From the moment we were told what was happening, the staff couldn’t help us enough.
“The cruise director couldn’t have been more nice and pleasant and because we had three days at sea on the way back, they laid on more entertainment.
“It was a full-on party for the sail home. Our all-inclusive package was continued and we had a superb extra few days.”
Once they arrived back in the UK, Alice, Derek, who also works with the council as a transportation officer, Mairianne and Grant had to travel by coach back to Scotland.
“Thomson Holidays did us proud with the service we received on the Island Escape and would like to thank them for their efforts,” said Alice.
Image used under Creative Commons licensing from Wikimedia Commons username benjo08.