They should have been circling the equator but instead an Endmoor couple found themselves lapping the Isle of Wight after their world cruise barely left British shores.

Twelve days into their 103-day voyage on the Aurora, Kay and Alan Foster had hoped to be heading for Madeira but instead they were back on British soil after engine trouble left the luxury liner with no option but to head home.

The couple boarded the boat on January 9 but, following five days marooned at Southampton docks and a test trip round the Isle of Wight, the Aurora's final attempt to set sail for warmer climes ended just off the Devon Coast on January 19 when the £200 million P&O liner limped home and the company decided to call it a day. A series of sea trials had shown that the liner, which was carrying 1,759 passengers, could not achieve the speed needed to complete her round-the-world trip.

However, the retired couple were philosophical about their predicament.

"We were told from the beginning that there were problems," said Mrs Foster. "We were given the opportunity to return home and come back when the boat was ready but we didn't want to leave, we just kept hoping they would get things right.

"It was very, very disappointing when we realised that was it," she added. "Although we have been on a couple of cruises before we hadn't been to Argentina, Uruguay or the Falklands and we were very much looking forward to visiting those places.

"But it was just one of those things - we were upset but there was nothing P&O or anyone could do."

Not even on-board entertainer Paul Daniels could work his magic on the stricken liner, which has been dogged by bad luck since its opening ceremony in April 2000. A bad omen is said to have been cast on the cruiser when a champagne bottle failed to smash at the launch performed by the Princess Royal several days later the liner broke down on its maiden voyage and returned to port.

In November 2003, around 450 passengers, including Levens woman Margaret Long, were struck by a highly contagious stomach virus.

However, despite missing out on the delights of South America and Australia, Mrs Foster stressed P&O could not have been more accommodating and said she would not hesitate to travel with the company or the Aurora again.

"They (P&O) couldn't have done more for us," she added. "All the drinks were free. Although we're not drinkers, they were coming around with cocktails and champagne, you could have anything. And the entertainment was brilliant Tom O'Connor, Elaine Paige, Jimmy Tarbuck and Paul Daniels."

P&O has offered passengers full compensation and 25 per cent off future trips. The company has said the cost of abandoning the cruise was £22 million.