Passengers unaffected by a gastrointestinal/GI outbreak aboard Ambassador Ambition were permitted to disembark in Bordeaux after French health authorities confirmed that the illness affecting the ship was norovirus.
1700+ passengers and crew had initially been ordered to remain aboard after the vessel arrived in the French port during a 14-night cruise from Belfast and Liverpool to destinations in Spain and 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 GI 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 MS Ambition's outbreak bore no connection to the separate hantavirus incident reported in recent weeks aboard the Dutch expedition ship 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.
Ambition is scheduled to remain in Bordeaux overnight before resuming the voyage on a revised itinerary intended to avoid adverse weather conditions forecast in the Bay of Biscay.
The UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line 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 norovirus 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 CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recorded 23 GI outbreaks on cruise ships during 2025, 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 GI illness.