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Beringia

(5,609 posts)
Wed May 13, 2026, 09:51 AM 7 hrs ago

France confines more than 1,700 people to cruise ship after suspected norovirus death

Source: The Guardian

French authorities have confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew members to a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after an outbreak of suspected norovirus, officials have said.

The vessel, Ambition, which is carrying 1,233 passengers, most of them British or Irish nationals, arrived in Bordeaux on Tuesday. One 90-year-old passenger had died and about 50 people had shown symptoms of the virus, French health officials said.

The operator, Ambassador Cruise Line, said the guest who died did not report any symptoms of gastrointestinal illness and the cause of death had yet to be established, pending a coroner’s full report.

The company confirmed there were 48 active gastrointestinal illness cases among the passengers and one among the crew on the vessel, which was on a 14-night cruise. It also said French shore authorities had instructed guests and crew members to remain onboard.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/13/france-confines-passengers-cruise-ship-norovirus-death-bordeaux



I found this on norovirus vs hantavirus

Norovirus and hantavirus are very different, despite both making headlines for outbreaks, particularly on cruise ships. The primary difference is that norovirus causes severe, short-term stomach illness, while hantavirus is a rare, life-threatening disease targeting the lungs or kidneys
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France confines more than 1,700 people to cruise ship after suspected norovirus death (Original Post) Beringia 7 hrs ago OP
You couldn't pay me to get on a floating petri dish. ForgoTheConsequence 7 hrs ago #1
Same here. Ritabert 6 hrs ago #5
A few other differences - werdna 7 hrs ago #2
Everyone who is trapped on that ship will eventually be exposed to the virus FakeNoose 2 hrs ago #13
Thanks for the info Farmer-Rick 6 hrs ago #3
I suspect that the vaccination rate for Americans on cruise ships... 70sEraVet 2 hrs ago #12
You've got to wonder how many cases have been missed like the opening days of covid and there were already people yaesu 6 hrs ago #4
Norovirus is very common. It's sad that someone died. LeftInTX 6 hrs ago #6
A 'scheduled stop' according to the BBC muriel_volestrangler 5 hrs ago #8
Port of Call Beringia 3 hrs ago #9
Why can't they just sail back home? Oh well...first world problems? LeftInTX 3 hrs ago #10
Motel 666 Ponietz 6 hrs ago #7
Every time I think about taking a cruise...... louis-t 2 hrs ago #11

werdna

(1,250 posts)
2. A few other differences -
Wed May 13, 2026, 09:55 AM
7 hrs ago

Norovirus infection can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea that start suddenly. Noroviruses are highly contagious. They commonly spread through food or water that is contaminated during preparation or through contaminated surfaces. Noroviruses can also spread through close contact with a person who has norovirus infection.

Norovirus infection occurs most frequently in closed and crowded environments. Examples include hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, schools and cruise ships.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/norovirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20355296

FakeNoose

(42,315 posts)
13. Everyone who is trapped on that ship will eventually be exposed to the virus
Wed May 13, 2026, 02:20 PM
2 hrs ago

This is not a good way to quarantine these people.

Farmer-Rick

(12,779 posts)
3. Thanks for the info
Wed May 13, 2026, 10:01 AM
6 hrs ago

Ships are giant petri dishes of germs and viruses.

It's not uncommon for flus and colds to get passed around when Navy ships deploy as everyone gets use to each others' germs. But at least, it use to be, in the Navy every one was fully vaccinated and cleaning was methodical. Not so sure that happens on cruise ships.

70sEraVet

(5,602 posts)
12. I suspect that the vaccination rate for Americans on cruise ships...
Wed May 13, 2026, 02:07 PM
2 hrs ago

is much lower than in the general American population.
I was one of those Navy squids who got the 16-shot air gun blast in my left shoulder!

yaesu

(9,447 posts)
4. You've got to wonder how many cases have been missed like the opening days of covid and there were already people
Wed May 13, 2026, 10:13 AM
6 hrs ago

In the population spreading it before the first cruise ship announcement, especially after Nazi musk destroyed our early warning capabilities. I do think the above case is probably something else.

LeftInTX

(34,833 posts)
6. Norovirus is very common. It's sad that someone died.
Wed May 13, 2026, 10:23 AM
6 hrs ago

Was the French port an excursion or final destination?


If it's the final destination, it really sucks that they are all confined on a poop-cruise...yuck...It has pay toilet in a diarrhea ward vibes...

If it's a "port of call", I wonder if this is routinely how this is handled? I kinda don't blame the port for not allowing them to disembark. They can simply go back to Ireland.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,548 posts)
8. A 'scheduled stop' according to the BBC
Wed May 13, 2026, 11:48 AM
5 hrs ago
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5pe4yel1ko

Starting from Belfast, then Liverpool, I'd guess it was heading for the Mediterranean, or possibly Atlantic islands like the Canaries or Azores.

Beringia

(5,609 posts)
9. Port of Call
Wed May 13, 2026, 01:07 PM
3 hrs ago

As of May 13, 2026, the Ambition cruise ship is docked in Bordeaux, France, acting as a port of call during a 14-night journey around Western France and Spain

LeftInTX

(34,833 posts)
10. Why can't they just sail back home? Oh well...first world problems?
Wed May 13, 2026, 01:08 PM
3 hrs ago

Turn the ship around or let it complete it's return journey (wherever it is in the itenary)

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