A settlement of £42,500 has been reached with 26 cruise passengers affected by the so-called winter vomiting bug norovirus.
Outbreaks hit six separate cruises on board the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship Boudicca between November 2009 and April 2010, including the Christmas period.
Many elderly passengers were on board during the outbreaks which led to severe symptoms including sickness, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps.
Fred Olsen agreed to the £42,500 settlement without accepting responsibility for the outbreaks of norovirus after passengers approached Your Holiday Claims, a division of Lancashire law firm Farnworth Rose, to bring a group claim against the cruise operator.
In some cases, the line cancelled the captain’s dinner before sailing to carry out a deep clean of the ship. Despite this, outbreaks continued to occur, according to Farnworth Rose.
Holiday claims solicitor Tracy Stansfield, who handled the case, said: “The illness suffered on board the Boudicca cruise ship was a very serious and sustained outbreak which spread from cruise to cruise.
“Although claims have been successfully settled, Fred Olsen have not accepted responsibility for the outbreaks.
“We have now been fighting for our clients for four years, and everybody is delighted that our clients have now received compensation for the very nasty illness that they contracted.”
Fred Olsen said in a statement: “Farnworth Rose and their clients may rest assured that all Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships meet the highest standards of health, safety and hygiene at all times, and comply fully with the strict requirements and inspections of their flag state and relevant authorities.
“Fred Olsen Cruise Lines rejects any allegations made in the claim by Farnworth Rose solicitors – as it has all along – regarding the standards of cleanliness and hygiene aboard its ships, which are of the highest standard across its fleet.
“Unfortunately, from November 2009 to April 2010, there was a higher incidence than usual of gastric illness, also known as ‘norovirus’, or ‘winter vomiting virus’, within communities in the UK, which is commonly identifiable in areas where people reside in close proximity.
“Most people do not report incidences, but on a cruise ship – where movement is restricted – cases are particularly highlighted.
“It is frustrating that, even with the extra preventative and containment measures that were put in place, a number of guests on board these cruises were affected by this illness.
“All Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ guests are made aware of the importance of meticulous hygiene at all times; guests are asked to complete a medical questionnaire before embarkation, and are reminded regularly to use the hand sanitiser provided and to take the necessary precautions on board to minimise the infection.
“In the event of a gastric illness outbreak, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines takes every precaution to ensure the swift containment of the illness on board, and a number of public areas, including all public toilets and the self-service buffet, are closed.
“Frequent cleaning of all areas of the ship is carried out, and any guest showing symptoms of the virus is asked to remain in his/her cabin, with complimentary room service and in-cabin entertainment, until he/she is considered to be symptom-free by the ship’s Doctor, before being able to join the rest of the ship.
“At Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, the health, safety and well-being of all our guests and crew remains our utmost priority at all times, and we believe that our systems for preventing the spread of illness on board our ships are amongst the best within the industry.”