Stifling heat and broken toilets: TUI River Cruise passengers tell of their holiday hell

Dozens of people have accused TUI River Cruises of operating vessels with faulty facilities including persistently broken air conditioning, after they spent thousands of pounds on holidays.

Earlier this year passengers on the Skyla, a ship operated by TUI, contacted BBC Your Voice to say they had been stranded in Budapest during a heatwave with little to no air conditioning .

Following that report more people got in touch to say they faced similar problems on both the Skyla and its sister vessel, the Isla. They criticised TUI's customer service and said the refunds offered were inadequate.

TUI apologised to customers where trips "fell short of the standards we aim to deliver".

A spokesperson for TUI, said: "We understand the disappointment and frustration caused to affected customers."

Passengers described stifling conditions as well as problems with plumbing after paying thousands of pounds for European cruises, including on the Danube River.

Andy Peach and his wife booked a seven-day trip on the Skyla in June, travelling through Budapest, Vienna and Linz.

It turned out to be "the worst TUI holiday we've ever been on", he said.