French authorities temporarily suspended disembarkation from the cruise ship Ambition operated by Ambassador Cruise Line after a gastrointestinal illness outbreak was reported on board during the vessel’s call at Bordeaux.
According to French officials and the cruise operator, around 50 passengers and one crewmember initially reported symptoms consistent with gastroenteritis. Later reports indicated the number of cases had risen to about 80 people. The ship was carrying more than 1,200 passengers and over 500 crew members.
The vessel was on a 14-day cruise that included calls at Belfast and Liverpool before arriving in France. Ambassador Cruise Line said the increase in illnesses appeared after additional passengers embarked in Liverpool.
Ahead of the ship’s arrival in Bordeaux, the operator submitted a standard medical report to French authorities. Health officials subsequently dispatched a medical team on board to assess transmission risks and identify the pathogen responsible for the outbreak.
Authorities initially considered several possible causes, including norovirus and food poisoning. Later on Wednesday, French officials confirmed the outbreak was caused by viral gastroenteritis linked to norovirus. No severe cases were reported.
As a precaution, passengers and crew were initially instructed to remain on board while testing was carried out and interactions with the port were limited. French authorities later allowed asymptomatic passengers to disembark and confirmed the cruise could continue.
Officials also stressed there was no connection between the incident aboard MV Ambition and the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to another cruise vessel, which has raised international concern in recent days.
A 92-year-old British passenger also died during the voyage. French authorities and the cruise operator said the death was believed to be related to a heart attack and not connected to the gastrointestinal outbreak.
Following the outbreak, enhanced sanitation measures were introduced on board, including intensified cleaning and disinfection of public areas, restrictions in self-service dining areas, reinforced hygiene protocols and cabin isolation for symptomatic passengers.
Norovirus remains one of the most common causes of illness outbreaks on cruise ships because of its highly contagious nature and the close-contact environment on board vessels.
