Norovirus outbreak strands 1,700 on cruise ship off Bordeaux as health authorities impose quarantine

More than 1,700 people were confirmed stranded in Bordeaux on Wednesday aboard the Ambassador Cruise Line ship Ambition, where almost 50 people had reported symptoms of what turned out to be norovirus. The ship had been anchored over fears of an outbreak, and British passengers aboard described scenes of sickness around the vessel.

One woman told the BBC she watched a person vomit on the bus in front of her and another on deck. A different passenger said he saw staff working hard to clean up after people who had been sick. The accounts come from a ship carrying 1,187 passengers and 514 crew on the 14-night Delights of Western France & Spain Explorer voyage.

The ship left Belfast on Friday, May 8, and reached Liverpool a day later. A company spokesperson said its figures showed a rise in reports of symptoms after guests embarked in Liverpool. The ship then sailed past Brest in France and arrived at Bordeaux, where it was anchored.

The turning point came on May 10, when a 92-year-old man was found dead aboard. Ambassador Cruise Line said he had shown no symptoms of the virus, and an official cause of death has not been announced. Shortly afterward, dozens of other passengers began falling ill, and norovirus was quickly suggested as the cause. The illness brings vomiting and diarrhoea and spreads fast in enclosed spaces. Officials confirmed it has no connection to the hantavirus outbreak that killed several passengers on a separate cruise.

At least 48 passengers, believed to be mostly British and Irish, and one crew member reported symptoms. The company told The Sun that those affected showed symptoms consistent with gastrointestinal illness.

Overnight, a medical team from Bordeaux University Hospital was airlifted onto the ship. A second team boarded early the next morning to collect samples, and testing confirmed norovirus. The local Gironde prefecture then activated what it called the health management protocol appropriate for this type of event, placing all 1,187 passengers and 514 crew in quarantine so they could be tested. Medical teams boarded to help those who were ill.

On social media, some passengers directed anger at fellow guests over hygiene. One wrote that she was horrified to see women leave public toilets without washing their hands. Another described a woman coughing in the dining room without covering her mouth. Many others praised the crew. One longtime Ambassador traveller called the crew magnificent and urged people to do their part. Another noted staff continually cleaning public areas and handrails, with team members stationed outside dining areas with hand sanitizer.

The company said enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols were put in place immediately after the first reports of illness. Passengers without symptoms have since been allowed to disembark, while authorities said those affected will stay in isolation under reinforced hygiene measures. Ambassador later confirmed that French health authorities had released Ambition to resume normal operations. What remains open is the cause of the 92-year-old man's death, which has yet to be announced.