A significant medical incident onboard P&O Cruises’ vessel Britannia prompted its early diversion into the Cromarty Firth yesterday.
Carrying nearly 3,700 passengers and 1,400 crew, Britannia was originally scheduled to arrive on Monday morning, June 9th, but instead was tracked entering the firth on Sunday evening, June 8th.
Ship tracking data showed Britannia briefly docking at the Port of Nigg (Highland, Scotland) around 06:45 p.m., where it is believed a passenger was transferred ashore to receive essential medical attention. Subsequently, the ship navigated back into the Moray Firth, performed a slow loop, and returned to the Cromarty Firth for a Monday-morning docking at Invergordon, aligning closely with its original schedule.
A spokesperson for P&O confirmed that the vessel had expedited its arrival at Invergordon to ensure the guest obtained proper medical care.
The vessel is on a 14-night British Isles itinerary that departed from Southampton on Friday.
At present, details remain limited regarding the specific nature of the medical emergency or the passenger's condition. The Scottish Ambulance Service has been contacted for additional information, but no further updates have yet been provided.
As the ship resumed its planned course and returned to its scheduled berth, the incident underscores the calibre of medical response procedures and the operational adaptability required for large cruise vessels when confronted with onboard emergencies.
For more Britannia incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.