A man was left "gobsmacked" after learning he could face a £1,000 fine - for deciding not to travel on a pre-booked P&O ferry cruise.
Paul Broadbent, 47, had been planning to travel to the Netherlands for a 10 day holiday.
But after finding prices for two single trips across to Zeebrugge and back would cost in excess of £350, he decided to take a cheaper option.
Mr Broadbent, from Hull, opted to travel on one of the ferry operator's mini cruise deals, which included a car ferry ride and overnight cabin stay for just £90, Hull Live reports .
The mini cruises see customers travel across for two nights, returning with P&O after a day spent exploring Holland.
Mr Broadbent wanted to forgo the return journey to spend an extra week in the continent, and hoped to return on a separate mini cruise that would set off from Zeebrugge - a move that would have halved his travel costs.
But he was left "gobsmacked" when he was told by P&O that he would incur a four-figure fine, plus the ticket price difference, when he tried to make the booking - as his plan was against the terms and conditions.
"I think it's morally wrong that the price of a return mini break is cheaper than buying single tickets, and that people can be fined £1,000 and the ticket price difference if they buy two returns to save some money, but don't go back on the ferry the next night," said Mr Broadbent, of north Hull.
"I was gobsmacked when P&O had the audacity to tell me that it would be classed as ticket abuse if I was to buy two returns instead of singles, and I just couldn't fathom out how it would be.
"Surely a car park space on a ferry is a car park space on a ferry.
"I'm amazed that what P&O are doing can go on in this day and age with putting such a fine in the terms and conditions, and I'm surprised they can get away with it.
"We live in Hull and it would be so much easier just to get the ferry, but they've blown in and we will just drive to Folkestone and get the Channel Tunnel as it's cheapest.
"I would have bought two mini cruise tickets in good faith more often, and we'd go away more often if the pricing was affordable, but the threat of the fine has put us off booking."
P&O Ferries claim its fares are competitive, and say it is not uncommon for return trips to be more cost effective than single trips.
A spokesman for the company said: "P&O Ferries offers competitive fares on its routes from Hull to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge respectively, with the exact cost dependent on timings and demand.
"In common with many other transport companies including airlines, it is not uncommon for return trips to cost more.
"This should be seen in the context of us offering cost effective travel between Hull and continent of Europe."
