Cruise ship detained in Bordeaux due to suspected norovirus outbreak

At least 48 passengers on the Ambassador Cruise Line vessel MS Ambition are believed to be displaying symptoms of norovirus, and the vessel was detained following its arrival in the French city of Bordeaux.

Passengers and crew were initially confined to the ship by authorities, although those who display no symptoms have now been allowed to move around freely, or leave the ship. Ambassador Cruise Line has stated that normal operations will now continue, including shore excursions.

Isolation guidelines will continue for those who display symptoms, however, and additional hygiene protocols and preventative measures have been implemented on board.

A 92-year-old passenger was initially suspected of having died due to the virus, but the operator has now released a statement saying that the guest did not report any symptoms of the virus prior to death. He is believed to have suffered a heart attack. 

The vessel, which departed Belfast on 8 May, arrived in the French city of Bordeaux on the morning of 13 May.

Upon arrival, the Ambition’s 1,700-plus passengers and crew – most of whom are from the UK and Ireland – were confined to the ship by port authorities to control the spread of the disease.

The ship was originally scheduled to depart Bordeaux for Spain, but could now be delayed – resulting in a disrupted cruise itinerary, missed flights, and a significant number of claims for travel insurers.

Norovirus is a form of gastroenteritis typically spread through faeces or surfaces that have the virus on them, drinking unclean water or infected food, or coming into close contact with someone with the virus. The virus is highly infectious, and often spreads among large numbers of people occupying a relatively confined space.

Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea, stomach pain, a high body temperature, and headaches.

Outbreak may affect travel plans

A spokesperson from comparison site Squaremouth noted that most travel insurance policies would typically cover norovirus as part of their comprehensive coverage for illness – consequently there may be claims from passengers for the impact of the disease itself.

Additionally: “Depending on the plan, this may include reimbursement if you need to cancel your trip. Many plans also cover emergency medical treatment while you are travelling, and some plans assist with additional travel costs if you have to return home early as a result of your illness.”

Beyond this, any disruption to the ship’s schedule as a result of its extended stay in Bordeaux could have a more wide-ranging impact on passengers’ travel plans.

“The immediate knock-on effect [for travellers] is the breakdown of onward travel plans, particularly for passengers due to disembark and connect with flights, rail journeys, or independent accommodation,” said Michael Foote, Founder of insurance comparison site Quote Goat. “In these situations, insurers will generally assess whether the delay was unavoidable, officially mandated, and directly linked to illness containment measures on board, as this determines whether cover is triggered.”

Foote added that in terms of any potential disruption that may occur due to the incident, “several core benefits may be triggered”, such as trip delay or missed connection cover.

He concluded: “Insurers will usually require formal evidence, such as written confirmation from the cruise operator or port health authorities, that passengers were instructed to remain on board due to the outbreak. Additional expenses are often covered under travel disruption or delayed departure provisions, but only within strict policy limits. Most insurers will expect passengers to mitigate costs where possible and retain all receipts as evidence.”

The case follows an outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise liner.