SEASICK cruise passengers spent just six minutes in Amsterdam after enduring a 30-hour storm-lashed journey.

More than 300 tourists set off on last Friday’s mini-cruise from North Shields to Holland, but their journey was delayed for 13 hours as the vessel was battered by monstrous high seas and gale force winds.

The only sights holidaymakers were able to see on arrival were that of a ferry terminal carpark, before they embarked on their journey back home.

The DFDS Princess Seaways service left the North-east on Friday afternoon, but didn’t reach The Netherlands until 11pm on Saturday, when passengers were promptly put on buses and driven 50 miles to the Hook of Holland port for their return journey.

They were then taken to Harwich, before being driven back to the North East by bus where they arrived at 4.30am on Monday.

Passenger James O’Neill, 31, from Bedlington, Northumberland, said: "It was horrendous.

"We should never have set off. People were just being sick all over.

"They’ve offered us another trip but I never want to get on a boat again."

Max Foster, DFDS Seaways UK passenger director, apologised to passengers.

He said: "The delay was caused by unpredicted severe adverse weather conditions on the North Sea, which resulted in the outbound crossing of Princess Seaways from Newcastle being delayed.

"Our primary focus at DFDS Seaways is always on passenger safety".

He added: "We have offered all passengers affected by the delayed sailing the opportunity to take their mini cruise at another time convenient to them."