Approximately 72 passengers on Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral have been isolated in their cabins after coming down with a norovirus-like bug.
A cruiseline spokeswoman said tests are being done to determine if it is norovirus, but confirmed that the passengers have all been sick, which is the main symptom of the so-called vomiting bug.
Balmoral left Dover on September 5 for a nine-night cruise around the UK. It is anchored off Portree in heavy winds and high swells after a visit to Kirkwall was cancelled because of the weather. When the weather improves, it hopes to cruise to Tobermory in the Isle of Mull. However, the spokeswoman said there is no talk of anyone being taken off the ship.
It is the second time this year a cruise ship in Scotland has been hit by the vomiting bug. In July, 200 passengers on Transocean’s Marco Polo went down with such a bad bout of norovirus that some had to be hospitalised. One man died, but was reported to have “underlying health problems”.
The cruise was cancelled, and Marco Polo was quarantined in Invergordon for four days before returning to Tilbury.