Dan and Chance Walton-Ashmore, newlyweds from England, say their honeymoon was ruined by cruise ship staff members who mocked them during their entire cruise. The two men are currently stuck on the ship and are documenting their ordeal on social media.
“This whole experience has been horrible,” Chance told the Mirror from onboard the Marella Discovery. “This should of been the trip of a lifetime and has turned out to be a nightmare.”
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The men are asking TUI, a popular British discount travel company, to allow them to leave and return home, saying the trip has been “ruined.”
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Instead, the company offered the two champagne, strawberries, and a free meal in the ship’s a la carte restaurant, according to Dan.
The couple alleges that staff members have mocked them, refused to give them a double bed, and refused them service at the bar. They say staff members refused to take photos of them but were happy to do so for heterosexual couples.
“We have danced with each other and noticed bar staff laughing and also pointing at us. Passengers have witnessed this happening and have all been really supportive.”
Dan said that TUI’s conciliatory offer wasn’t enough to compensate what was happening to them as they cruised through South East Asia.
“This is not good enough and is in no way a sufficient apology and does not make up for the 11 days that we have been through,” he said.
“We have the support of passengers on board and people back at home. We just want to come home now as we are a laughing stock for the TUI staff on board.”
“We’re very concerned to hear of the Walton-Ashmore party’s experience onboard Marella Discovery and we take claims of this nature very seriously,” a TUI representative told the Mirror. “We are currently investigating this internally.”
“Our team onboard are doing everything possible to address the customers’ concerns and give them the best possible experience on their holiday.”
