THEY never thought it would feel so good to be home.

Tears of joy were shed as 2,200 Britons stranded when the Icelandic volcano eruption closed British airspace for a week, finally arrived at Southampton’s City Cruise Terminal last night.

It was the emotional climax of an extraordinary maiden voyage by the city’s newest liner, the £500m Celebrity Eclipse.

Among the passengers was Ringwood headteacher Derek Brooks, who missed his mother’s funeral on Tuesday after being stranded in Spain.

His wife Jackie welled up as the couple finally set foot on British soil at the end of a traumatic week.

“It was a good experience after all the rubbish that we have been through over the past couple of days,” said Derek.

“The staff on board were wonderful, they really could not have been better.”

Jackie added: “I’m actually quite emotional – it is just so good to be back home.”

Morag Pearce, from Sholing, Southampton, danced a jig after being reunited with sister Heather Kirkland, who was waiting quayside.

The Beechwood Primary School teaching assistant had been stranded in the Costa del Sol with taxi driver husband Gordon.

“It’s nice to be home after a whole week. The ship was pleasant, but getting to it was horrendous,” she said.

Many of the stranded tourists were from Scotland and northern England and faced another lengthy trip to their homes.

A fleet of more than 40 coaches were waiting in the docks to bus them back to all corners of the country.

Sharon Lester openly wept as she boarded a coach to Durham to be reunited with her daughter, who turns 13 today.

“I was desperate to be home for her birthday, I’m overjoyed,” she said.

“The last two days have been absolutely amazing on that boat. It is an experience I will never forget.

“I’m extremely emotional. I am just so pleased to be home.|

I didn’t think I would ever get here.”

Earlier in the day a huge cheer erupted when it was announced all drinks were free for the final two hours of the voyage.

Dan Hanrahan, president and chief executive of Celebrity Cruises, hailed the mercy dash a huge success.

“For all of these smiling faces, it was worth it,” he said. “We started and finished as a mission to get people home.

“We were in a unique position and I would have felt quite bad right now if we had not helped out.”