Last Updated on February 25, 2025 by Mrunal & Jiten
A suspected norovirus outbreak has been reported on board a cruise ship which has returned to Southampton today.
The P&O Cruises ship Iona left Southampton, the UK’s busiest cruise port, on February 15 for a seven-day round trip to Germany, Holland and Belgium.
But the European adventure turned sour for some on board, as one passenger told Sky News that “people have been dropping like flies” and that holidaymakers were “throwing up in restaurants, on decks” and “outside cabins”.
It is reported that the captain made a public announcement on Thursday to confirm the outbreak, explaining that staff were doing all they could to stop the spread of infection.
P&O Cruises has confirmed that some passengers are “experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms” and said that medication and an emergency support number is available 24 hours a day.
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Passengers with symptoms who are isolating said that staff shortages have resulted in issues with food, new towels and new bed linen being delivered to cabins.
The same passenger told Sky News: “Even the entertainment has been adversely affected with many of the scheduled acts unable to perform and replaced with a cobbled together entertainment programme to placate the guests.
“What was also incredulous was the inability to buy or get hold of any medication onboard to help with the symptoms. Not one shop or medical centre onboard could supply guests with gastrointestinal suspension medication or replacement salts/fluid sachets.”
P&O Cruises confirmed that guests have “unfortunately reported gastrointestinal symptoms” but that the bug was only affecting fewer than 1 per cent of people on board.
The cruise liner also said that any guests having to isolate or who were otherwise unable to join shore experiences will receive a full refund.
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A spokesperson for the Southampton-based cruise line told Sky News: “We are aware that some guests have unfortunately reported gastrointestinal symptoms recently on board Iona’s Northern Europe cruise,” P&O Cruises said in a statement.
“Gastrointestinal-related illnesses are very common in the UK and are predominantly spread by person-to-person transmission in environments such as hotels, schools and restaurants.
“P&O Cruises works with global, national and regional public health authorities on approved and proven protocols across our ships in order to protect the health and wellbeing of all on board.”
Iona returned to Ocean Cruise Terminal just after 5am today.
It is set to depart at 5.30pm for another 7-night cruise of Northern Europe, stopping at Rotterdam, Hamburg and Zeebrugge.
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