A family are facing a bleak Christmas after their dream cruise in Italy turned into a nightmare.

Businessman Kevin Rowland told how he watched in horror with his wife and 16-year-old son as their cruise liner, the Costa Riviera, rolled around on high seas and began to fill with water.

The toilets on board the Italian ship, carrying 800 passengers, were also "caked with sewage", according to Mr Rowland who was joined on the holiday by his wife Linda and son Andrew.

And he revealed how he slept with a lifejacket under his pillow as the ship continued its journey in pitch blackness along the Italian coast.

Mr Rowland, of Chalkwell Avenue, Westcliff, said: "This holiday was supposed to be a dream Christmas - but it's all been ruined.

"We knew something was wrong after we got on the ship and saw the toilets caked with sewage. We got moved to another cabin but the carpets were soaked with water."

Hundreds of holidaymakers left the ship, which started its journey in Savona, at its first stop in Naples - after a nightmare which lasted more than 20 hours.

They were given a full refund and offered a half price cruise with the company.

The cruise was supposed to take in the sights of Egypt, Israel and Greece before returning to Italy on December 27.

A source from the Italian boatyard in Naples told Mr Rowland that plates were allegedly buckled underneath the 31,500-tonne ship and the propeller shaft was damaged after the ship previously ran aground - resulting in the rough ride.

Peter Richardson, spokesman for Costa Cruises, said plumbing problems affecting showers and toilets had arisen after the ship had gone back into use.

The liner had been in dry dock for repairs which were estimated to take two months but the ship was released after just four weeks.

Home sweet home - Kevin and Andrew Rowland with their memories

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

By Chris Weeks

Reporter's e-mail: chris.weeks@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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