Exclusive
LAND OF WOKE & GLORY
Brit holidaymakers blast P&O cruises as snowflakes for axing patriotic singalongs and Union Jack flag-waving
FURIOUS Brit holidaymakers have blasted P&O Cruises as snowflakes for ditching Union flags and patriotic songs at their sail away parties.
Departures from the final port before a ship’s return to the UK have for years been marked by a rousing singalong on deck.
4
4
The vessels were decked out with Union Jack bunting and punters waved small plastic flags as they sang Rule Britannia and Jerusalem and hummed along to the Dambusters theme.
But the Southampton-based firm has now scrapped the Last Night of the Proms-style Great British Sail Aways.
The bunting, flags and patriotic songs have gone and the events are now just called Sail Aways — with customers encouraged to join in with Sailing by Rod Stewart.
As Gary Linley, 62, and wife Diana left Lisbon recently they were horrified to find the patriotic singalongs they so enjoyed had been scrapped.
Retired engineer Gary, of Wakefield, West Yorks, said: “There was none of the bunting, flags or patriotic songs. It isn’t meant to be offensive to anyone. It’s just a great celebration of good old traditional British songs which are sung with a sense of British pride. What’s wrong with that?”
'POLITICALLY CORRECT'
Gary said a crew member told him the company stopped handing out flags to scrap single use plastic and wanted to be more “politically correct”.
He added: “Some people aren’t proud to be British any more but it’s crazy — P&O are a British company who cater mostly for British customers and whose ships all have the Union Jack on them.”
Other customers complained on Facebook. Stephen Smith said: “Just waiting to disembark in Barbados. No patriotic songs or Union Jacks. A member of staff said P&O are trying to appeal to the international market.”
Maureen Dobson said: “The Great British sail away wasn’t so great.”
MOST READ IN TRAVEL
Sail Aways hit the headlines last summer when a boozed up mass brawl involving a clown broke out as a ship was leaving Bergen in Norway.
The latest snowflakery comes days after we told how Lake District chiefs want to tarmac its hills for “accessibility”, hikers moaned Mount Snowdon was too steep, and parents blasted the Tower of London for being too gory.
A spokesperson for P&O said: “We have not had flags or bunting on board our ships for many months as part of our removal of single use plastic items.
"We do have sailaway parties on deck with contemporary music with wide appeal.
"The Sailaway parties are one part of the overall entertainment and experience for guests across the fleet.
"There are contemporary shows, performers and headline acts catering for all tastes and ages.
"For example on Iona this summer, which is the most ambitious and largest ship built for the British market there is Ionafest on July 4, with Jo Whiley; Sara Cox, Trevor Nelson and Clean Bandit, amongst others.
"We are also announcing new entertainment very soon as part of the build up to the introduction of this new ship."
4
4
- GOT a story? Ring The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or email [email protected].