Cruiser sues line over early wake-up call

U.K.-based Thomson Cruises is facing a lawsuit this week from a British vacationer who says an early wake-up call on a Thomson ship ruined his trip, a U.K. news outlet is reporting.

The Derby Telegraph says David Bookbinder, 71, of Derbyshire, is asking for a full refund for his Red Sea cruise on the Thomson Celebration after being forced to get up before 5:00 a.m. on the day of a stop in Israel to clear immigration.

Bookbinder says the ship's staff told passengers the early wake-up call was necessary so they could be interviewed by Israeli immigration officials before leaving the ship, but he's arguing it really was a ploy to sell more shore excursions for the visit, the Telegraph says.

Immigration procedures could have been held at a "more acceptable" time, and the early wake-up caused a level of distress that ruined the entire sailing, Bookbinder tells the news outlet.

"I'm happy to get out of bed at 3.30 a.m. if the ship is sinking, but not so excursions can be sold," Bookbinder is quoted as saying.

A spokesperson for the line told the news outlet the immigration process that passengers experienced during the call is common for all ships visiting Israel.