Hundreds of passengers on a British cruise ship have had their dream holiday ruined by a sickness bug.
A total of 252 out of 919 passengers on the Fred Olsen Cruises ship the Balmoral have been affected by a suspected outbreak of norovirus, which causes sickness and vomiting.
The vessel set sail from Southampton on April 16 and was inspected by the United States Centers for Disease Control when it reached Baltimore.
Eight crew members have also become ill. The company says it has stepped up cleaning and disinfection measures and collected samples to be tested.
James Pritchard, a personal injury specialist at Macks Solicitors in Middlesbrough, says cruise ship passengers and holidaymakers on package deals may be able to claim compensation if they suffer food poisoning.
He advises taking the following steps…
- Report the illness as soon as you can to the holiday rep or service provider, making a note of the time and date and obtaining a written record if possible.
- Take details of any fellow holidaymakers who become ill.
- Make a detailed food diary, recording everything you’ve eaten for at least three days before becoming sick.
- If you need medical treatment, ask for a copy of your notes and keep any receipts.
- Retain all holiday documentation including booking forms, receipts and bills.
- Inform the tour operator when you are able to, but this isn’t urgent as long as you’ve informed staff on site.
- Contact a solicitor when you return home.
“Saving up all year to go on holiday and then having your cruise or fortnight in the sun ruined by illness is incredibly frustrating, as well as being painful and uncomfortable,” says James. “It can also leave you with long-lasting damage.
“Hopefully it will never happen to you, but if it does, by far the most important thing you can do in terms of being able to recover compensation is to report the problem as soon as you’re able to.”
The Balmoral, which is on an “Old England to New England” cruise, is currently on its way to St John, Canada. It is due back in the UK on May 20.
Macks Solicitors have expert holiday claims specialists who can tell you whether you might be able to recover compensation. Call 01642 252 828 for a no-obligation consultation or use our online form.
