By Andy Richardson From Birmingham Mail

Stephen Gray and partner Christine Gould are battling for compensation with Thomson Cruises after being left on drip following Caribbean cruise

A couple from Rubery whose luxury £6,500 dream holiday was ruined by a mystery illness while on board a Caribbean cruise ship have labelled a compensation offer of £400 as “an insult.”

Stephen Gray and his partner Christine Gould are in a year long legal battle with Thomson Cruises over their “holiday from hell.”

The couple took a two-week Christmas holiday on a Thompson Celebration cruise liner back in December 2014.

While on board they started suffering breathing difficulties and coughing fits and both quickly developed problems with their mobility.

As well as the chest problems they suffered, they both fell ill with diarrhoea and stomach pains during the two-week cruise on the Thomson Celebration, which left them unable to join planned excursions when the ship docked.

After visiting the on-board doctor they were placed on IV drips and given oxygen to help with their breathing.

At least 12 other passengers were also affected by gastric and respiratory illnesses during the cruise from Bridgetown, Barbados.

Mr Gray, aged 52, who works as a civil engineer, said: “That was the only holiday I could get all year. We had been saving for some time to afford our dream holiday which turned into a nightmare.

“It is appalling that we ended up being placed on a drip on what was supposed to be a relaxing break. Our nightmare didn’t end when we left the ship either, as I was forced to take a week off work and Christine was also very ill.

“We have since been trying to get compensation for our holiday from hell. They have offered us just £400 for a £6,500 holiday. It is a total insult.”

Jennifer Downing, an expert travel illness lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “It is extremely concerning to hear reports of illness problems on board a number of different Thomson Celebration cruises.

“We now represent 12 holidaymakers who suffered illness problems on the ship during voyages in 2014 and 2015. Their holidays were far from the idyllic relaxing cruises they were expecting with some of our clients hospitalised and others having suffered significant gastric symptoms.

“They are all still looking for answers about the ordeal they endured during what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday and we have launched an investigation into what caused their illness.”

The concerned passengers reported to their legal team at Irwin Mitchell that food was on occasion served lukewarm, that some of the food was left uncovered and that the use of alcohol gel, designed to prevent the spread of illness through the ship, was not always monitored or enforced after people fell ill on the ship.

Stephen added: “Both Christina and I suffered from chest pains and tiredness on board the ship and just when we thought the illness problems were over we were both hit with terrible gastric symptoms, which left us both requiring medical assistance.

“The holiday was completely ruined by the illness we suffered and we couldn’t enjoy it as we had hoped to when we booked it. Ultimately, we have been left extremely angry and frustrated at the illnesses we suffered and it appears that it wasn’t just us who fell ill on board this ship.

Thomson Celebration cruise ship
“We want to know what caused the illnesses we suffered and after others fell ill on previous cruises, if more could have been done to prevent us and others falling ill.”

A spokesman for Thomson Cruises said: “We are sorry to hear of Mr Gray and Ms Gould’s experience on-board Thomson Celebration. As this case is now subject to legal proceedings it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”

IMAGES:
Pictured: Stephen Gray, who was left seriously ill following a cruise in the Caribbean. He is battling to get compensation.
Stephen Gray and the Thompson Celebration cruise liner

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/caribbean-holiday-hell-cruise-ship-11000084