Morning:
2°c
Britons return as cruise ship docks
24 Apr 2010- Barclays sparks anger over bonuses
- Austerity bill sent to parliament
- Damilola killer recalled to prison
- Three jailed over gay-hate leaflet
- Not time to resign, says Lansley
- 'Nuclear' accusations dismissed
- Dismay at council prayers ruling
- Miliband plans tax on bank bonuses
- Hunt goes on for soldiers' killers
- Dangerous road warning to drivers
Around 2,200 holidaymakers rescued by a brand new cruise ship have finally got back to Britain.
The relieved passengers, who were caught out abroad by the Icelandic ash travel chaos, docked in Southampton refreshed by the 30-hour trip aboard the £500 million Celebrity Eclipse.
The tourists - many who had been stranded for up to seven days - embarked in Bilbao, Northern Spain, on Thursday for the free cruise on the luxury ship.
Many had endured coach overnight journeys of up to 16 hours to get to the port and finally home, and tempers for some were short.
Guests were treated to beds, food and entertainment aboard the ship, which cancelled its inaugural celebrations to come to the rescue. And in the final hours, the cruise line told passengers the drinks were free in what has been a publicity coup for the company.
The ship had sped to Southampton at its top speed of 24 knots to get people back because many on board were from Scotland, northern England, the Midlands and Wales and so had lengthy finals legs to complete.
A fleet of 65 coaches was at the port to get the passengers on the road, and those with the longest way to go disembarked first.
School support worker Alice Hoon and her husband Chris were on board with their children Catriona, 20, and Alasdair, 16. They had been stranded for four days in the Algarve, Portugal, on an all-inclusive trip, but the family were now looking at a further 11-hour journey home to near Oban in Scotland.
"We took the option of the ship because we had to get back as our children have exams," Mrs Hoon explained.
"We're relieved to be back in the UK and the ship's brilliant, we have loved it. We now have a 10-hour journey to Glasgow Airport to pick up our car and then another hour home but we have to do it."
