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A gay couple claim they have suffered homophobic abuse from Tui staff during a honeymoon cruise in South East Asia.

Dan and Chance Walton-Ashmore have accused workers of pointing and laughing at them as they danced in a bar on the Marella Discovery.

The couple, both 25 and from Duffield, Derbyshire, are still on the ship and also allege they have been ignored by staff because of their sexuality during their £3,000 honeymoon.

NHS worker Dan has branded Tui a "disgrace" and said the pair, who tied the knot a year ago, want to come home because their getaway has been "ruined".

He wrote on social media from the ship: "Heartbroken at this cruise.

(Image: Dan Walton-Ashmore/Deadline News)

"We have received so much homophobic abuse from Tui staff on board the Marella Discovery.

"We want to come home. TUI are a disgrace!"

Dan said today: "Initially, it was that they refused to provide a double bed rather than the two singles we were given, even though the booking did state it was our honeymoon.

(Image: Dan Walton-Ashmore/Deadline News)

"When we requested this to be completed at reception five times they simply pointed and laughed at us. I had to push them together myself for it to be done."

He claims when they complained they were told by a member of staff: "I find it hard to believe as I'm the minority on this ship as a heterosexual woman, not you."

Dan and Chance, an interpreter for the deaf, claim bar staff were laughing and pointing at them as they danced.

Dan said: "We are being treated differently from the bar staff and in some cases not being served at all and feeling like we are invisible.

"We have danced with each other and noticed bar staff laughing and also pointing at us. Passengers have witnessed this happening and have all been really supportive."

Dan also alleges that staff have refused to take pictures of them together despite being only too happy to photograph heterosexual couples.

(Image: Dan Walton-Ashmore/Deadline News)

"We had to have a private photo shoot in their studio away from other guests which was brilliant but those pictures had to be paid for," he said.

The two have also slammed the entertainment on stage, which they claim has been "racist and transphobic".

Dan said: "A member of staff has just been sat behind us slagging us off after we raised concerns about racist and transphobic jokes which were not appropriate."

Tui, having seen the couple's posts on social media, have tried to make amends by giving them champagne, strawberries and a free meal in the a la carte restaurant, said Dan.

(Image: Dan Walton-Ashmore/Deadline News)

He added: "This is not good enough and is in no way a sufficient apology and does not make up for the 11 days that we have been through.

"We have the support of passengers on board and people back at home. We just want to come home now as we are a laughing stock for the Tui staff on board."

Speaking today, Chance said: "This whole experience has been horrible. This should of been the trip of a lifetime and has turned out to be a nightmare.

"I didn't think in 2019 we would be facing this kind of prejudice from an established company.

"We really want to stress that it is the minority of the staff on board not the majority.

"We only have a few days left but it has really ruined our honeymoon and we do not feel safe on board or comfortable enough to be the honeymoon couple we should be able to be."

A TUI spokesperson said: "We’re very concerned to hear of the Walton-Ashmore party’s experience onboard Marella Discovery and we take claims of this nature very seriously. We are currently investigating this internally.

"Our team onboard are doing everything possible to address the customers’ concerns and give them the best possible experience on their holiday."