James and Janice SeddonBULKINGTON couple James and Janice Seddon should today be enjoying an £18,000 round-the-world cruise but instead they are back at home after their luxury ship was dogged with engine problems.

Instead of seeing the Caribbean and Africa they got no further than the Isle of Wight.

Mr and Mrs Seddon returned home on Friday after P&O cancelled the 103 day cruise because of a problem with the ship's propulsion system.

The liner was due to set off from Southampton on January 9.

Despite attempts to repair the propulsion motor and an amended

itinerary P&O admitted defeat on

January 20.

Mr and Mrs Seddon were among the 1,367 passengers who remained on board the ship in the hope the Aurora would set sail.

To while away the time passengers were given free champagne and six course meals.

Top entertainers were also brought in and the couple enjoyed performances by Elaine Paige and Jimmy Tarbuck.

Mrs Seddon, a secretary, and her husband, a retired headmaster, have been told P&O is refunding every passenger's fare and giving 25 per cent compensation to be used towards another cruise with the company.

Despite their disappointment Mr and Mrs Seddon used their compensation to book a new cruise while they were on board the Aurora.

Mrs Seddon, 51, said: "We had been so looking forward to this cruise. We booked it last February.

"I must admit I had a little tear in my eye when we were told the cruise was cancelled."

Mr Seddon, 69, who bought 12 reference books on the countries they were due to visit on the cruise, said: "It's been our lifetime's ambition to go on a round the world cruise.

"We had saved up to pay for it and it was very disappointing but thanks to the compensation offered by P&O we will be going on a similar cruise in October."

The couple were hopeful that the problems with the Aurora's propulsion system had been overcome when the ship left Southampton on the evening of January 19 for the first port of call, Madeira.

But even then the couple thought there could be problems as they saw only one engine was working as they stood at the rear of the ship.

At 8am the following morning the captain announced over the tannoy that the repairs had been unsuccessful and Aurora was returning to Southampton.

Mrs Seddon said: "Even though the crew were never sure if the ship was going to sail the standards in the bar and dining room never faltered, everything went on as if we were going to sail.

"We were looked after so well. I think everybody had a few more glasses of champagne as it was free and P&O did all they could to make it work and they kept us informed the entire time. Although it was a disappointment to us it must have been a bigger headache for P&O.''