A British couple's dream Caribbean holiday has been thrown into disarray, with their cruise ship left stranded and circling Barbados following the recent US military intervention in Venezuela.
Holiday Plans Sunk by Geopolitical Crisis
Lizzy Meadowcroft, 56, and her partner Mark Crowther from Morecambe, Lancashire, are among thousands of passengers on the P&O cruise ship Arvia who have found themselves in holiday limbo. The vessel, which can carry up to 5,200 tourists, set sail from Barbados on January 2, 2025, for a family-friendly itinerary.
The trouble began after US President Donald Trump ordered the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on January 3. In the wake of the operation, the US Federal Aviation Administration instructed aircraft to avoid parts of the Caribbean airspace, causing widespread flight cancellations and delays.
'We're Being Told It's Because of Trump'
The couple described a frustrating lack of clear communication from the cruise line. "First, we were told that the delays were due to the weather, then there was a problem with the aircraft and now we're being told it is because of Trump," Lizzy explained. "We would have rather known the truth from the start."
Due to the air restrictions, the Arvia has been unable to proceed with its planned route. Passengers report the ship has not ventured more than 30 miles from shore and has been forced to return to Barbados three times to collect passengers whose flights were affected. The ship was due to dock in Martinique on Tuesday before visiting St Kitts and the British Virgin Islands, but this itinerary has been scrapped.
"We are currently back in Barbados, wondering if Trump will bomb Venezuela again or if other countries will get involved," Lizzy added, highlighting the anxious atmosphere onboard. "The feeling on the ship is not great, we are all disappointed as we have all saved hard for a holiday."
Cruise Line Scrambles to Manage Fallout
A spokesperson for P&O Cruises confirmed the extensive disruption. "Following the disruption and impact caused on Saturday by the international air restrictions, all P&O Cruises guests on Arvia Caribbean cruise holidays now have confirmed flight details to/from Barbados," they stated.
The company said it had worked "tirelessly over the weekend" with charter carriers to arrange new flights for approximately 5,000 inbound and outbound guests. They are now prioritising communicating a revised onward itinerary to those passengers who remain on the ship, currently docked in Barbados until 7pm local time on Tuesday before a planned departure for St Lucia.
For Lizzy, Mark, and thousands of other holidaymakers, a relaxing escape has been transformed into an unexpected wait, their voyage held hostage by events far out at sea and in the political arena of South America.
