The cruise ship Ambition, with about 1,700 passengers on board, was detained in southwestern France after dozens of cases of acute intestinal infection. French doctors confirmed that the patients had norovirus, after which the ship was allowed to continue its route.
This was reported by CNN.
According to the Gironde department health agency, symptoms of acute intestinal infection were recorded in 50 passengers. All the patients were examined by a doctor, after which they were isolated in their cabins.
The outbreak has temporarily suspended disembarkation of passengers in Bordeaux pending medical tests. The tests were being conducted by the infectious diseases department at the University Hospital of Bordeaux.
The operating company said tests had confirmed norovirus, an infection that can cause fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. The virus is transmitted through contaminated surfaces, food, water and dirty hands.
Following the initial reports of the illness, the ship implemented enhanced sanitation and prevention measures.
The Ambition set off on a cruise around France and Spain after disembarking passengers on May 8 and 9 in Belfast and Liverpool, UK.
A 92-year-old passenger also died on board on May 10. The ship's operator said the man had no symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness.
"The cause of death is yet to be determined and the full coroner's report is awaited. We are providing all possible support to the deceased's friends and family and offer them our deepest condolences at this difficult time," the operator said.
The regional health department separately noted that they do not link the situation on board the Ambition to the hantavirus outbreak on the Hondius cruise ship.
After the norovirus was confirmed, French health authorities allowed the ship to resume normal operations. Passengers were allowed to disembark again, and scheduled excursions should take place as scheduled.
What is known about the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius
As a reminder, there was an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, there were deaths. Initially, the ship was denied permission to dock when there were still almost 150 people on board.
More than 20 passengers on the MV Hondius, which later had an outbreak of hantavirus, left the ship shortly before it was quarantined.
Now, Spain has agreed to accept the MV Hondius cruise ship, which had a hantavirus outbreak. The ship headed for the Canary Islands. Five Ukrainians were on board the MV Hondius with hantavirus. One of them has already been evacuated, and the remaining five crew members will help bring the ship to a Dutch port.
Doctors say that dozens of cases of hantavirus infection are recorded in Ukraine every year.
The Argentine Ministry of Health reported that 28 deaths were recorded due to hantavirus in 2025, which is 15 times more than the average mortality rate five years earlier.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on countries around the world to increase preparedness for a possible increase in hantavirus cases.
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