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More than 1,000 mostly British holidaymakers were unable get back aboard P&O’s Azura luxury cruise ship after spending the day in the high-rolling harbour town. They had been taken ashore aboard small launches at 10am on Saturday morning but heavy Mediterranean seas made it to risk to try to get them back to the ship that night.

It was horrendous. It’s spoilt our holiday Julie Rowson

But instead of being put up in one of Monte Carlo’s five-star hotels, furious passengers were told to sleep on tables or makeshift beds on a basketball court. Cruise passenger Julie Rowson, of Cannock, Staffs, said: “It was horrendous. It’s spoilt our holiday. “We were supposed to be spending the day in the most luxurious and expensive place on earth but had to spend the night sleeping on a floor.

P&O Azura passengers were forced to sleep on the floor of a Monte Carlo basketball court

Heavy seas made it to risky to try to get the holidaymakers back aboard the cruise liner

“I’m very angry and upset. It’s a disgrace. It was very cold. There were a lot of elderly people there.” Julie, on holiday with her husband Paul, 48, and their two children and said the short journey from the cruise ship had been choppy. They spent the day “seeing how the other half live” but then there was “delay after delay” when they returned to the port to travel back to the ship. READ MORE:Cruises: Rules staff on world’s most expensive ship must follow

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Eventually, passengers were told they were going to stay at a basketball court for the night where Julie says they were just given towels. The Azura was heading for Cartagena in Spain today before setting sail for Southampton and the end of the cruise next Saturday. A spokesman for P&O Cruises said: “Due to unexpected poor sea conditions it was necessary to stop tender operations in Monte Carlo. “Shelter and food were provided by the ship’s crew for those guests still on shore. DON'T MISS:

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P&O Azura is now heading for Spain