Norovirus Outbreak Strands Cruise Ship Off Bordeaux as Passengers Describe Vomiting and Hygiene Concerns

On Wednesday, the cruise ship Ambition sat anchored at Bordeaux with 1,701 people aboard, and French health authorities had decided that none of them would be going anywhere until they had been tested. The ship, run by Ambassador Cruise Line, carries 1,187 passengers and 514 crew. Almost 50 of them had reported symptoms of what turned out to be norovirus.

The voyage began on Friday, May 8, when the ship left Belfast. It reached Liverpool a day later, and the company's spokesperson said its figures showed reports of symptoms rising after guests embarked there. The ship then sailed past Brest in France before arriving at Bordeaux, where it was held at anchor over fears of an outbreak. The trip was the 14-night Delights of Western France & Spain Explorer itinerary.

The situation turned serious on May 10, when a 92-year-old man was found dead aboard. No official cause of death has been announced. Ambassador Cruise Line said he had shown no symptoms of the virus. Shortly afterward, dozens of other passengers began to fall ill, and norovirus was quickly suggested as the cause. The illness brings vomiting and diarrhoea and spreads fast in enclosed spaces.

At least 48 passengers, believed to be mostly British and Irish, and one crew member reported symptoms. The cruise line told The Sun that those affected showed signs 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 the tests confirmed norovirus. Officials said the outbreak has no connection to the hantavirus outbreak that has killed several passengers on a separate cruise.

The Gironde prefecture then activated what it called the health management protocol appropriate for this type of event. In practice, that meant quarantining everyone on board so they could be tested. Medical teams went aboard to treat those who were ill. The cruise line said it had put enhanced sanitation and prevention measures in place as soon as the first illnesses were reported, and thanked guests and crew for their patience and cooperation.

Passengers described unpleasant scenes. One woman told the BBC she saw someone vomit on the bus in front of her and another person be sick on deck. Another passenger praised the staff he watched cleaning up after sick guests, calling them very hardworking.

On the cruise line's social media, some guests directed their frustration at fellow passengers. One complained of women leaving public toilets without washing their hands. Another wrote that some passengers needed a lesson in hygiene, citing a woman coughing in the dining room without covering her mouth. Others defended the ship. One regular Ambassador traveller called the crew magnificent and urged people to do their part. Another noted staff continually cleaning public areas and handrails, team members with hand sanitiser outside dining areas, and plenty of restrooms near dining rooms and bars for handwashing.

The quarantine has since eased. Passengers without symptoms have been allowed to disembark, while those who are ill remain in isolation, with reinforced preventative and hygiene measures on board. Ambassador Cruise Line later said French health authorities had released Ambition to resume normal operations. What remains unresolved is the cause of the 92-year-old man's death, which has not yet been announced.