Solihull couple to sue over Christmas cruise ordeal

A Christmas cruise turned into a nautical nightmare for a Solihull couple.

Now Susan Hodges and Jonathan Owen are taking legal action over their experiences aboard the Thomson Spirit liner last December.

Susan, 46, ended up in a Tenerife hospital and confined to her cabin for two days as she suffered diarrhoea, sickness and stomach cramps.

And she said the health problems lingered after she returned home to Solihull – ruining her Christmas.

“Being so far from home, feeling isolated and trapped and receiving such little support from the ship staff was really distressing,” she said.

“Jonathan was forced to stay in the cabin on the cruise with me.

“We knew of other people who seemed to be suffering from the same illness too.

“I was given medication on board the ship in the form of anti-sickness injection, paracetamol and rehydration fluids.

“But it wasn’t until I went to hospital in Tenerife that I was prescribed medication which really helped alleviate some of the symptoms.

“I suffered for weeks after I landed back in the UK.

“Our Christmas was ruined, as I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the house for a meal.

“I want to understand more about how I came to become so unwell and whether more could have been done to prevent my illness.”

Susan claimed some food aboard the cruise liner was served lukewarm and under-cooked.

She also alleged that hand sanitizers were not used by crew members despite other people on-board falling ill.

The couple have hired Birmingham-based law firm Irwin Mitchell to look at their case against Thomson.

A Thomson Cruises spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear of Ms Hodges and Mr Owen’s experience on board the Thomson Spirit.

“As this case is now subject to legal proceedings it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.

“The ultimate priority for Thomson Cruises is the health, safety and comfort of all our customers.

“We operate stringent health and hygiene procedures in line with industry standards.”

Read more: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/solihull-couple-sue-over-christmas-7786763