'Hundreds' sick as cruise ship struck with 'major outbreak'
As many as 200 guests on the cruise ship are reportedly struck down with the illness, with some forced to isolate.
'Hundreds' of travellers aboard a Scottish cruise liner have been struck down by a severe stomach bug.
Fred Olsen's The Balmoral was scheduled to arrive in Lerwick, Shetland, on Tuesday, January 27, but the call was scrapped on Sunday following turbulent conditions that lashed the islands.
Currently, holidaymakers on the vessel reported an epidemic of gastroenteritis – a highly infectious stomach bug that can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. Several passengers have been forced to quarantine themselves due to the outbreak, reports the Daily Record.
One traveller informed The Shetland Times that approximately 200 people aboard the ship – which has capacity for over 1,200 passengers – had become unwell. Regular tannoy messages allegedly cautioned that the vessel was "experiencing increasing cases of people presenting with symptoms of gastroenteritis".
Yet, some holidaymakers suggested the reports had been overstated, insisting that most incidents were merely seasickness triggered by the choppy voyage from Norway.
The axed Lerwick visit also meant certain passengers were denied the opportunity to witness the world-renowned Up-Helly-Aa fire festival, Shetland's annual tribute to its Norse ancestry, staged every year on the final Tuesday of January.
Fred Olsen Cruises stated the weather predictions made docking hazardous. A representative told The Shetland Times: "While we understand the disappointment of missing the much-anticipated Up-Helly-Aa festival, the safety of our guests and crew must always remain our highest priority."
The firm's director of health services, Kate Bunyan, acknowledged that multiple passengers had experienced gastrointestinal symptoms.
She stated: "We have immediately implemented measures to help reduce transmission, and our medical team is on hand to provide support to anyone who should feel unwell during the cruise.
"Balmoral will be returning to Southampton tomorrow, where she will set sail a little later than planned to allow for a deep clean of the ship and cruise terminal. The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has robust health, hygiene, and safety protocols in place at all times."
Travellers scheduled to board the cruise ship departing from Southampton on Thursday experienced hold-ups after it emerged that several passengers had developed gastroenteritis symptoms.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has informed guests scheduled to embark on Balmoral in Southampton on Friday that the delayed boarding is necessary to facilitate an intensive deep clean of the vessel upon its arrival at port.
The operator explained the modification is a precautionary step designed to safeguard the health and welfare of travellers and staff.
In correspondence sent to holidaymakers, the cruise company insisted there was "no cause for concern" and emphasised that the alteration formed part of its comprehensive health protocols.