Mutiny Erupts on Cunard Christmas Cruise

Cruise ship passengers departing from Southampton were forced to circle the English Channel due to bad weather.

More than 2,000 passengers were stuck on board the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship after it spent four days doing circles in the English Channel because the vessel was unable to dock at Amsterdam.

According to the UK’s Daily Echo, passengers staged a “mutiny” in protest over the decision to turn back to Southampton early, and stormed the reception desk chanting “We want the captain!”

Cunard, who operates the ship, offered passengers compensation of an on-board spending credit as a goodwill gesture. The line stated that guests were able to enjoy the ship's facilities, which were open throughout the trip. The captain looked at two alternative ports of call which were both unsuitable due to similar weather conditions.

Some passengers also complained of a strong smell of diesel at the front of the ship throughout the trip.

The ship returned to Southampton one day early because of engineering works.