Gastric illness and the Boudicca Cruise Ship

Gastric illness and Norovirus were reported on the Fred Olsen owned Boudicca Cruise Ship three times during late 2009 and January 2010.

Many complaints were made to Fred Olsen Cruise Liners, and also to Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors, who have spoken to passengers seeking compensation. Many passengers have still not been compensated by the cruise line company, and many more are seeking compensation for Norovirus, gastroenteritis and Salmonella.

Passengers on board the Boudicca became ill with severe stomach pains, vomiting, sickness and diarrhoea during a mini-cruise to Amsterdam on December 18th, and a Christmas cruise to Madeira on the 22nd December, 2009.  Many complainants are only just receiving responses to their complaints from Fred Olsen Cruise Liners and, of those who have, most are not satisfied with the amount of compensation offered.

To date, the only compensation offered by the cruise company to passengers struck down with sickness on board the Boudicca has been by way of vouchers towards a future cruise and a refund of any days lost due to cleaning of the vessel.  The cruise line company claim that Norovirus was bought onto the ship by new passengers and therefore not their fault.

A Boudicca cruise left Portsmouth on December 6th, 2009 and over 180 passengers were taken ill with gastroenteritis, vomiting and sickness which was linked with Norovirus. The ship returned to Portsmouth on December 18th. Fred Olsen then claim the ship was deep-cleaned before leaving for the mini-cruise to Amsterdam on the same day. However, 50 passengers and 5 members of the crew were taken ill, again with Norovirus.

After once again returning to port, the Boudicca was deep-cleaned, according to Fred Olsen Cruise Liners, before setting sail to Madeira on the evening of 22nd December. On this trip, 289 out of 795 passengers were diagnosed with Norovirus. Symptoms included severe vomiting, dehydration and diarrhoea, and many passengers were confined to their cabins to prevent the spread of the disease.

Passengers have claimed that it would have been impossible to deep-clean the ship before setting sail between cruises as there was not enough time, and many of those holidaymakers are now seeking compensation for holiday illness.

Whilst Norovirus and gastroenteritis may be brought on board a cruise ship or into a holiday hotel by accident, protocols are required to be implemented to deal with the containment of viruses and demand strict compliance with advanced hygiene standards, including, where necessary quarantining those with illness symptoms, increasing the incidence of cleaning and disinfecting the ship/hotel and warning all holidaymakers to take particular care with their personal hygiene.  Where holiday tour operators fail to implement these protocols they may be found responsible for failing in their duties to safeguard passengers and holidaymakers and may be subject to a claim for negligence.
Norovirus and cruise ship illness

Outbreaks of illness, including Norovirus, Salmonella and Gastroenteritis were reported by passengers between March 2009 and March 2010 on the following cruise ships:


December, 2009 - Jan, 2010 - MS Island Escape, Thomson Cruises

December 22nd, 2009 - The Boudicca Cruise Ship, Fred Olsen Cruises

December 18th, 2009 - The Boudicca Cruise Ship, Fred Olsen Cruises

December 15th, 2009 - Summit, Celebrity Cruises

December 6th, 2009 - The Boudicca Cruise Ship, Fred Olsen Cruises

November 5th, 2009 - Independence of the Seas, RCI

October 30th,  2009 - Norwegian Spirity, Norwegian Cruise Line

October 22nd, 2009 - Noordam, Holland America Line

October 18th, 2009 - Boudicca, Fred Olsen Cruises

September 9th, 2009 - Balmoral, Fred Olsen Cruises

July 31st, 2009 - Voyager of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

July 23rd, 2009 - Thomson Spirit, Thomson Cruises

July 6th, 2009 - Marco Polo, Transocean Cruises

July 16th, 2009 - Diamond Princess, Princess Cruises

June 16th, 2009 - Oriana, P&O Cruises

June 13th, 2009 - Millennium, Celebrity Cruises

May 31st, 2009 - Oriana, P&O Cruises

May 30th, 2009 - Amsterdam, Holland & America Line

May 27th, 2009 - Coral Princess, Princess Cruises

May 20th, 2009 - Sea Princess, Princess Cruises

May 6th, 2009 - Island Princess, Princess Cruises

April 29th, 2009 - Carnival Liberty, Carnival Cruise Lines

April 23rd, 2009 - Amsterdam, Holland America Line

April 12th, 2009 - Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

March 24th, 2009 - Westerdam, Holland America Line

March 20th, 2009 - Island Princess, Princess Cruises

March 19th, 2009 - Queen Mary II, Cunard Line

March 12th, 2009 - Mercury, Celebrity Cruises

March 2nd, 2009 - Azamara Quest, Azamara Cruises