Passengers allowed to leave Ambassador ship after norovirus outbreak

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition has been released by the French health authorities to continue “normal operations” following an outbreak of norovirus on the ship.

About 50 people were reported on Wednesday (May 13) to have the gastrointestinal illness, with all 1,701 on board instructed to stay on the ship while medical samples were processed.

The ship, which had called into Bordeaux, departed Belfast on Friday (May 8) and Liverpool on Saturday for the 14-night Delights of Western France & Spain Explorer sailing.

Ambassador said in a statement on Facebook late on Wednesday night that “the ship has been cleared, following laboratory analysis undertaken in Bordeaux”.

It said the French health authorities confirmed that the gastrointestinal illness affecting a number of guests and crew is viral gastroenteritis (norovirus), with transmission from person to person or through the environment.

“At this stage, no serious cases have been reported,” added the statement.

“We can confirm that a 92-year-old male guest on the sailing sadly passed away on 10 May 2026. The guest did not report GII illness symptoms.”

The cruise line said passengers are now able to disembark and all scheduled shore excursions will be operating as planned on Thursday (May 14).

“Throughout this period, the health, safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew have remained our highest priority,” it added.

“Enhanced sanitation measures, medical monitoring and isolation procedures remain in place across the ship.”

More: Ambassador Cruise Line confirms gastro illness cases on Ambition sailing