Norovirus struck passengers fight for compensation

At least fifty passengers who caught norovirus on a fourteen day cruise on Marco Polo are taking action. The passengers had each spend around £2500 on their planned cruise of Baltic capitals on the cruise ship. However, they ended up being quarantined in their cabins for up to a week when the got the bug.

Some of the passengers had tried to cancel their trip after the first outbreak of norovirus in July when 400 passengers and crew went down with the stomach virus, but they were all told ‘the vessel was free from germs and … [they would] lose at least £1500.00’ of the cost of their holiday if they cancelled. The second outbreak of the norovirus left many people ill and others unable to enjoy the cruise because they were confined to the cabin they shared with the ill person. The agents for the then owner Transocean Tours, refused refunds and then filed for insolvency. The customers are taking legal action against Transocean and the travel agents who sold them their cruises.