A PENSIONER who was hoping for a dream cruise aboard the luxury liner Aurora said he was gutted that the voyage was abandoned.

Colin Jones, 70, was one of 1,400 who filed out of the arrivals lounge at Southampton Docks after a battle to try and fix the £200 million ship's propulsion system failed.

They were supposed to be on a 103-day trip to 40 destinations, including South America and Tokyo, but in the end managed only 110 miles to the Devon Coast before P&O Cruises finally admitted defeat.

Mr Jones, who paid £9,000 for the cruise and returned to his Wroughton home yesterday, was hoping a winter trip to hotter climates would help the chronic disease he suffers from.

Since the age of 10 his health has been blighted by osteomyelitis a bone infection, usually caused by bacteria.

"I usually try to get away every winter to get away from the damp conditions," he said.

"I'm gutted because I was looking forward to three months in the sun.

"I'm choked because I should have been in Rio by now but instead I'm back unpacking in the cold and wet."

The cruise was abandoned yesterday ten days after its scheduled departure date, which had repeatedly been put back because of engine troubles.

With the ship only able to go around the Isle of Wight on short trips while repairs were carried out, 385 of the original 1,752 passengers had abandoned ship by the time she sailed on Wednesday night.

Despite this disappointment, Mr Jones, who has been going on cruises since 1970, said P&O treated him well.

As well as agreeing to refund passengers' fares, stars such as Jimmy Tarbuck, Paul Daniels and Elaine Paige were brought on board to provide entertainment and all drinks were free.

There were also frequent shuttle trips to Southampton and Mr Jones was given £100 to cover his travel costs back home.

The pensioner, who went on the cruise with a friend from Birmingham and who worked at the Rover plant in Swindon for 27 years, said: "It was a grand boat and I would go back on it again.

"This has not put me off going on cruises one bit. I was impressed with the way P&O dealt with it."

Aurora will be repaired at either a UK or German shipyard and will be out of service for about five weeks.

The failed voyage is expected to cost P&O up to £30m.

A company spokesman said: "P&O Cruises apologises for the disappointment this has caused passengers and offers its assurance that everything was done to get Aurora's Grand Voyage underway before this difficult but unavoidable decision was taken."

In 2003 there was more trouble at sea when about 600 passengers on board the same ship fell victim to a sickness bug, including Leigh Payne and Julianne Horgan from Swindon.

Ben Payne