Passengers unaffected by a gastrointestinal outbreak aboard the cruise vessel Ambition were permitted to disembark in Bordeaux after French health authorities confirmed that the illness affecting the ship was norovirus, a highly contagious form of viral gastroenteritis.
More than 1,700 passengers and crew had initially been ordered to remain aboard after the vessel arrived in the French Atlantic port during a 14-night cruise operating from Belfast and Liverpool to Spain and western France. Authorities later revised the restrictions, allowing asymptomatic passengers ashore while individuals displaying symptoms remained isolated on board.
According to Ambassador Cruise Line, 60 passengers and 4 crew members were continuing to experience symptoms of gastrointestinal illness as of Thursday morning. The company further confirmed that shore excursions in Bordeaux had resumed as scheduled following the easing of restrictions.
French authorities also stated that the outbreak aboard Ambition bore no connection to the separate hantavirus incident reported in recent weeks aboard the Dutch expedition vessel MV Hondius.
Laboratory analysis conducted at Bordeaux University Hospital identified norovirus as the cause of the outbreak. Local officials reported that no severe cases had been recorded and that affected passengers were being treated by the ship’s medical personnel.
The vessel is scheduled to remain in Bordeaux overnight before resuming its voyage on a revised itinerary intended to avoid adverse weather conditions forecast in the Bay of Biscay. The cruise operator indicated that the additional time in port would both improve comfort for recovering passengers and provide operational relief for crew members who had been working under difficult conditions during the outbreak response.
The outbreak occurred midway through the vessel’s current itinerary, which included scheduled calls along France’s Atlantic coast and northern Spain. French authorities noted that reported illness cases increased following embarkation in Liverpool earlier in the voyage.
Data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 23 gastrointestinal outbreaks aboard cruise vessels during the previous year, the majority linked to norovirus infections, including newer circulating strains.
Ambassador Cruise Line also confirmed that a 92-year-old male passenger who died aboard the vessel on Sunday had not exhibited symptoms associated with the outbreak, with reports indicating that the death was unrelated to the gastrointestinal illness.