A grandad who wanted to treat his family to a luxury cruise after being through 'hell and back' due to health issues has had those dreams knocked back. John Coates, 68, and wife Sandra, 65, booked their cruise long before Covid brought travel to a halt.
Their cruise to the Norwgian Fjords was finally re-scheduled for this summer with the couple excited to finally get away with their family, including their two sons, their wives, and four grandchildren, who are all under the age of 10. With just weeks to go until the trip the family were forced to cancel the holiday, after being told by P&O that they had been moved from the disabled balcony cabin they'd booked to an inside cabin. This would not accommodate John's mobility scooter.
Sandra told the LiverpoolECHO: "After three years of waiting we have had to cancel along with our family of 10. This has upset my husband greatly as this was meant to be a well deserved holiday for our family and our grandchildren have had to accept this.
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"My husband is lucky to be alive after he spent four months in hospital for a life changing operation. I am now my husband's carer 24/7. He's been to hell and back and this holiday was meant to be a respite for our family."
They said they were told the reason for the change in arrangements was because the disabled cabin they originally booked was needed in case any passengers came down with Covid. Mrs Coates said P&O initially only paid back less than half the £12,000 paid for the seven-day trip they booked from Southampton. The price covered the cost of cabins for herself and her husband, and their two sons and their families.
John's battle with serious ill-health began in 2018 with thrombosis of the stomach. At one stage he was in a coma and fighting for his life, and he has also had two bouts of cancer.
The former electrician said: "The family has been through such a trauma and I wanted to give them something back. The cruise was a way of us all getting together for a bit of luxury."
P&O Cruises spokesperson said: "We are so sorry that this happened to Mr and Mrs Coates. We have now spoken to them and offered them a full refund plus a gesture of goodwill on all linked bookings and would love to welcome them on board in the future."
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