A barrier is ready in entrance of the British cruise ship Ambition, as French authorities have ordered 1,700 passengers and crew to remain on board attributable to a gastrointestinal sickness outbreak, in Bordeaux, southwestern France.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Passengers unaffected by an sickness outbreak on a British cruise ship have been allowed off the ship in Bordeaux, whereas authorities confirmed the reason for the outbreak is norovirus, a nasty abdomen bug that spreads simply.
French authorities had initially ordered over 1,700 passengers and crew on The Ambition cruise ship to stay on board, however then determined late Wednesday (Might 13, 2026) to let these unaffected disembark.
One passenger was noticed elevating his arms in triumph whereas leaving the vessel.
It was not instantly clear what number of left the ship.
French authorities mentioned there is no such thing as a hyperlink to a lethal hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch vessel that has put European well being authorities on alert in current weeks.
The Ambition was halfway by means of a 14-night cruise from Belfast and Liverpool, with scheduled stops in northern Spain and alongside France’s Atlantic coast when it was struck by the outbreak. It reached Bordeaux on Tuesday (Might 12, 2026) night, in keeping with the operator, Ambassador Cruise Line. It was not instantly clear if or when it could resume its journey.
Samples analysed at Bordeaux College Hospital confirmed an outbreak of norovirus. Native authorities mentioned at this stage no severe instances have been reported and that sick passengers have been cared for onboard by the ship’s medical staff.
The U.S. Centres for Illness Management and Prevention, which tracks outbreaks on voyages that decision on U.S. and overseas ports, recorded 23 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships final 12 months. Most have been attributable to norovirus, together with a brand new pressure.
Ambassador Cruise Line, a British operator catering to passengers over 50, was based in 2021.
Printed – Might 14, 2026 06:42 pm IST