Covid-hit passenger on five-star cruise put in ‘horrendous’ quarantine hotel

Rick Chadwick, 59, has to isolate in a hotel in Malaga, Spain, for six nights and faces a hefty £750 (€900) bill. He compared the accommodation to student halls and said the food was “dire” and “grim”.

Speaking from the hotel room, the holidaymaker said: “The food is horrendous. It’s 11am here and I’ve still not had anything to eat or drink for breakfast.

“I can’t wait to get home. It is horrendous here. The only saving grace is the roof terrace.

“The support and aftercare given to us is diabolical.

“It’s a disgrace. I am lucky that I have a shower in my room as some are having to share.

“It is supposed to be a covid centre but there are no sanitation gels.”

Rick had tested positive for coronavirus on the TUI-operated cruise during routine tests the day before his flight home, Yorkshire Live reports.

And Rick, who isn’t ill despite the positive lateral flow test, said his wife had to fly home without him as he went into isolation in Spain.

The self-employed joiner is one of around 40 people, many of them Brits, who have to remain in Malaga for six extra nights in total.

They had been on a trip with Marella Cruises, owned and operated by TUI, which Rick says has “relinquished all responsibility”.

The tourist, of Haworth, West Yorkshire, added: “I am annoyed with TUI.

“Once they got us off the ship they relinquished all responsibility and no one has contacted us to see how we are doing.

“TUI has just washed its hands of us. They are not interested.

“I think they should have a representative around here to see what they (the Spanish authorities) have put us in.”

Rick is hoping that the extra costs will be picked up by his insurance company and is hoping to fly back to Manchester later this week.

In addition to the £750 hotel charge, Rick had to fork out around £75 for a taxi from the docks in Malaga to the special accommodation.

The taxi journey with the other stricken tourists took only a few minutes and was described as being “Covid secure” but to Rick, it appeared to be an everyday minibus and he felt he’d been massively overcharged.

But TUI says the safety and well-being of its tourists are its priority.

A spokesman for the firm said: “We’re sorry that Mr Chadwick was unable to enjoy the full duration of his cruise as planned.

“We follow the correct protocols at all times and after he tested positive for Covid, he was transferred to a quarantine hotel under local guidelines in Spain.

“The safety and well-being of everyone onboard is our highest priority, and we always offer every support possible to our guests.”