CRUISE passengers from Huddersfield are among 450 on the last leg of a round-the-world cruise who spent a second night stranded in Madeira.
The MV Van Gogh has been prevented from setting sail since being detained on Tuesday in the port of Funchal in the final stage of a three-month voyage.
Holidaymakers were due to arrive back in Falmouth, Cornwall, on Saturday but a dispute involving the administrators of Travelscope, the previous operator, means they may not be home until Sunday.
The passengers include eight who booked through Examiner Travel.
Van Gogh Cruises, which is based in Cheltenham and is a subsidiary of Dutch-owned Club Cruise, was expected to update the passengers on the situation today.
Van Gogh Cruise Line managing director Mark Horwood said lawyers were arguing for the release of the vessel.
Mr Horwood, 43, said passengers were preparing a petition to be sent to travel association Abta to request immediate “repatriation”.
He said that Travelscope’s administrators were behind the detention, making “alleged claims” relating to previous charter agreements.
“Currently Club Cruise’s lawyers are liaising with the authorities in an effort to prevent further delay by allowing this matter to be handled on return to Falmouth, to minimise further distress to our passengers.
“However, the administrators have so far refused to allow this.
“The passengers have been kept informed on board.”
He added: “We would like to remind you that it was through the intervention of Club Cruise that the Van Gogh’s World Cruise was saved following the administration of Travelscope.
“The administrators of Travelscope agreed that Club Cruise should operate the cruise.
“They have now prevented them from doing so.”
The holidaymakers had originally booked the cruise through Travelscope but, after it went into administration, Abta arranged for the Van Gogh trip to go ahead in a one-off arrangement.
The liner set off on January 4 from Falmouth for a trip costing up to £9,000 per person.
It took in the Mediterranean, Egypt, the Caribbean, Ecuador, Tahiti, New Zealand, Sydney, Mauritius and Cape Town.
One passenger said that although they are not confined to the ship and can enjoy its facilities, the problem is not knowing if or when they will set sail.
“We appear to be being held to ransom by the receivers of Travelscope who are holding the ship here,” he said, adding that there is a “Dunkirk spirit” on board.
Another passenger is actress Shirley Anne Field, who appeared in Alfie with Michael Caine.
She said the passengers were being held “to ransom”.
