Cruising Talk - View Single Post - Astor (Transocean)

**Ally** · 05-22-2007, 04:41 AM

A STORM left 270 tourists stranded on the Hebridean island of Lewis last night.

The group of Germans and Austrians had arrived from a cruise ship for a day of sightseeing.

But when the wind gusted to more than 50mph, they could not return to the 20,000-ton Astor, moored three miles off Stornoway harbour.

Council officials declared an emergency after it became clear there were not enough rooms in hotels, B&Bs and hostels for the bedraggled visitors.

But eventually beds were found for 240, with the remainder offered accommodation on the Calmac ferry, The Isle of Lewis.

However, a shocked Stornoway hotel chef on his first day in a new job found himself having to cater for the 270 unexpected guests.

Andy Slaven, who works at the Caladh Inn, said: "This many people at such short notice was a unique experience."

General manager Teresa Chapman was full of praise for the staff. She said: "There are no instructions in the manual for dealing with ships in distress."

Passengers Rainer Schutz, 62, and wife Elizabeth, 45, from Vienna, praised the hospitality they were shown.

Elizabeth said:"We came to a part of Scotland we'd heard was wild and windy. What we didn't know was that people would be so helpful."

Coastguards said that the Bremen-registered Astor was due to leave today.

(Daily Record)