France lets asymptomatic passengers leave cruise ship after stomach flu outbreak

LAST UPDATE | 21 hrs ago

FRENCH AUTHORITIES HAVE allowed asymptomatic passengers to leave a British cruise ship, saying a gastrointestinal virus was behind an outbreak of sickness that came after an elderly man died of a heart attack.

Earlier, authorities had ordered a lockdown for the more than 1,700 passengers and crew on the vessel, but insisted there was no connection with the hantavirus outbreak suspected of killing three people on the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise ship.

A majority of the 1,233 passengers on board are from Britain or Ireland.

Testing confirmed the outbreak on the Ambition, an Ambassador Cruise Line ship anchored in the port of Bordeaux in western France, was “a gastro-intestinal infection of viral origin”, the local government and regional health agency said in a statement.

They said there were no severe cases, and that asymptomatic individuals were now free to disembark, but that those infected were required to remain in isolation on board.

News that a 92-year-old British passenger had died on the ship as dozens of others suffered upset stomachs initially caused concern.

But health authorities said the man had suffered a heart attack and that his death appeared unrelated to the illnesses.

“At this stage, no link has been established with the gastroenteritis episode,” they said.

Port authorities said his body remained on board, “in accordance with international conventions”.

Authorities said that since Monday, 80 people on the ship had suffered from “symptoms consistent with an acute digestive infection”.

They said the lockdown order had been issued as an “abundance of caution” and to “avoid psychosis”, given international worry over the hantavirus outbreak on the Hondius, which set sail from Argentina and is now heading back to the Netherlands after being evacuated.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade earlier told The Journal it is “aware of reports and stands ready to provide assistance”.

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A Dublin passenger on board the cruise ship told The Journal earlier that “everybody is enjoying themselves”.

Cheryl said she boarded the Ambition in Belfast with her mother and has had a “fantastic” experience so far, but hopes the cruise departs Bordeaux soon. 

“The weather has been fantastic, and the ship is amazing,” she said. 

“Everybody is enjoying themselves on board here and myself and my mam are loving life and enjoying the nightlife and entertainment they have to offer us. The rooms are beautiful and staff are all very friendly.”

“Just hope we get to head off from here soon.”

Gastroenteritis is caused by a stomach bug. It usually comes from contaminated food or close contact with someone who already has symptoms, which include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes fever.

The ship, which left the Shetland Islands on 6 May, stopped in Belfast in Northern Ireland, Liverpool in Britain, and Brest in France before reaching Bordeaux, from where it was scheduled to depart for Spain.

Cases of gastroenteritis rose following the embarkation of passengers in Liverpool.

In an earlier statement, Ambassador Cruise Line said: “We would like to reassure guests that we take any illnesses aboard our fleet extremely seriously.

“Enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols were immediately implemented across the ship in line with established public health procedures following the initial reports of illness.

“The comprehensive health and safety measures introduced include increased cleaning and disinfection measures in public areas, assisted service in selected dining venues and ongoing guidance to guests regarding hand hygiene, including regular hand washing, use of hand sanitisers and the prompt reporting of any symptoms to the onboard medical team.”

With reporting from Press Association and © AFP 2026

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