P&O apologised to passengers after cancelling the world cruise

Hundreds of passengers, who paid up to �41,985 each for the 103-day trip, saw their holiday cancelled because of persistent propulsion problems.

John Miller, who is still onboard, told BBC News on Thursday that people met the bad news with "quiet resignation".

He insisted that he would still be happy to sail with P&O in the future.

We were really looking forward to it but it's not to be Passenger John Miller

He described the moment passengers were told the cruise would not be going ahead, saying: "There was no weeping and wailing to start off with, just a shrug of shoulders.

"People just looked at each other. We were all very sad, disappointed.

"We were really looking forward to it but it's not to be."

But he added that later there was a "bit of a fracas" in the reception area.

He said: "A number of people, in a heated fashion, were talking about the compensation package with the executive purser.

Compensation 'reasonable'

"But he calmed things down and got people to go away and write letters to head office and talk to them about it.

"To be honest, the compensation package is reasonable."

Passengers have spent 10 days on the cruise ship, which was due to take in 23 countries but, until Wednesday, had got no further than the Isle of Wight.

P&O said passengers would be refunded and offered money off another cruise.

Aurora is expected to be back in Southampton by Friday morning.