A cruise ship with numerous British passengers affected by norovirus has been cleared to resume operations after a period of quarantine. The Ambition vessel, carrying 1,701 individuals, faced restrictions upon docking in Bordeaux due to a viral outbreak that led to one fatality and several cases of illness.
Following assessments by local officials, asymptomatic passengers were permitted to disembark while those infected were directed to stay onboard in isolation. Norovirus, a highly transmissible gastrointestinal illness causing vomiting and diarrhea, was identified as the cause of the outbreak.
Health authorities disclosed that the death of a 92-year-old British passenger was due to a heart attack and not linked to the norovirus incident. The cruise operator, Ambassador Cruise Line, reported 48 passengers and one crew member with active gastrointestinal illnesses.
A total of 1,187 passengers and 514 crew members were aboard the ship, with samples from affected individuals undergoing testing at a local hospital in Bordeaux. A passenger, Seos Guilidhe, described the lockdown experience as relatively calm compared to the COVID-19 pandemic, with onboard activities continuing as normal.
The cruise departed from Belfast on May 8 and made a stop in Liverpool before embarking on a 14-night journey to France and Spain. An increase in gastroenteritis cases was noted after passengers boarded in Liverpool.
Ambassador Cruise Line emphasized its commitment to passenger safety, implementing enhanced sanitation measures and health protocols across the ship. The company assured guests of strict cleanliness standards, including increased disinfection, dining service modifications, and continuous education on hand hygiene practices.
A spokesperson clarified that the norovirus outbreak on Ambition was unrelated to the hantavirus incident on the MV Hondius cruise ship.