Thomson Cruises blasted by couple for 'insulting' £400 compensation offer after being placed on IV drips and given oxygen on £6,500 dream holiday
- Stephen Gray stayed on Thomson Celebration with partner Christine Gould
- But both fell ill with breathing difficulties and coughing fits on journey
- Holidayed during Christmas 2014, and been seeking compensation since
A couple stricken by a mystery illness on a £6,500 Caribbean cruise ship have branded a compensation offer of £400 'an insult'.
Stephen Gray and his partner, Christine Gould, from Birmingham, took a two-week Christmas holiday on the Thomson Celebration cruise liner in December 2014.
It was meant to be their dream holiday, but while on board they suffered breathing difficulties, coughing fits, diarrhoea and stomach pains.
Stephen Gray paid £6,500 to go on a Thomson cruise with partner Christine Gould, but both fell ill on the two-week holiday
After visiting the onboard doctor they were placed on IV drips and given oxygen to help with their breathing - but were unable to take planned excursions when the ship docked.
At least 12 other passengers were also affected by gastric and respiratory illnesses during the cruise from Bridgetown in Barbados.
'That was the only holiday I could get all year,' said civil engineer Stephen, 52. 'We had been saving for some time to afford our dream holiday and it turned into a nightmare.
The couple from Birmingham travelled on the Thomson Celebration during the Christmas period in 2014
Stephen Gray says his holiday turned into 'a nightmare'
'It didn't end when we left the ship either. I was forced to take a week off work and Christine was also very ill. We have since been trying to get compensation.
'They have offered us just £400 for a £6,500 holiday. It is an insult.'
Jennifer Downing, an expert travel illness lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: 'We represent 12 holidaymakers who suffered illness problems on Thomson Celebration voyages in 2014 and 2015. Some of our clients were hospitalised and others suffered significant gastric symptoms.
'They are all still looking for answers and we have launched an investigation into what caused their illness.'
Passengers reported to the legal team that food was occasionally served lukewarm, some food was left uncovered, and 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.
'The holiday was ruined by the illness we suffered,' said Stephen. 'We couldn't enjoy it as we had hoped.
'We are angry and frustrated about the illnesses we suffered and it appears that it wasn't just us who fell ill on board this ship.
'We want to know what caused the illnesses we, and others who fell ill on previous cruises, suffered, and if more could have been done to prevent people falling ill.'
A spokesperson 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.'
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