The new £19m cruise liner terminal near Liverpool’s Pier Head cannot be used for turnarounds due to its lack of baggage handling and Customs facilities.

A spokesman for Thomson said last night: “At Thomson Cruises, the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is of paramount importance.

“With this in mind, the decision has been made not to sail on the Taste of Ireland cruise, due to severe storms forecast for tonight and the weekend.

“We do appreciate this is very disappointing for customers; however, the mood on board is good and, having been advised as of late morning, 75 out of 1,301 passengers have so far decided to return home.

“Others are currently still on the ship or have travelled into Liverpool for shopping trips or to explore Europe’s city of culture.

“To allow customers to continue their holiday, Thomson Celebration will remain in the port of Liverpool and it is the intention to offer a full service to customers for the weekend, including the Captain’s Gala dinner.

“As the cruise was cancelled due to events entirely beyond the control of the ship and Thomson Cruises, customers are not due any refund, and guests should contact their insurance company to assess whether they have a further claim.

“However, our customers are incredibly important to us and Thomson Cruises is providing all passengers with a voucher offering 80% off a future cruise booking, regardless of whether they choose to go home today, or enjoy the ship’s facilities and entertainment until Sunday.

“In the meantime, we remain committed to ensuring that those who decide to stay on board over the weekend have an enjoyable stay.”