Passenger on 'frightening' cruise ship where 1,700 people are stranded after virus outbreak speaks out
A passenger on board the cruise ship Ambition has spoken out about what it's like being stuck on board along with 1,700 other people who aren't allowed to disembark.
The Ambassador Cruise Line vessel set sail from Belfast last Friday (8 May) and is currently docked in the French city of Bordeaux.
Local authorities aren't allowing anyone off the ship as at least 48 passengers and one crew member are displaying symptoms consistent with a gastrointestinal illness.
Health authorities say the current viral outbreak on board has 'no link' to the recent hantavirus outbreak on another cruise ship, the MV Hondius, as a gastrointestinal illness is more likely a sign of food poisoning or norovirus.
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A 92-year-old passenger died on board the ship on Sunday (10 May) with cause of death still to be established, he didn't report any related symptoms.
1,187 passengers and 514 crew are still on board the Ambition, and passenger Michael Gallagher has said things are 'frightening' on board the ship according to We Are Tyrone.
Michael and his wife Patsy are on board the Ambition and have been told to 'shelter in place' along with everyone else, with him saying they're 'safe but on high alert'.
"There are serious quarantine measures on board, and the crew are doing the best they can," he said.
He explained there were staff in protective suits spraying disinfectant in cabins, while everyone was having to follow hygiene and distancing rules to try and stop the virus on board the ship from spreading.
"Everyone is trying to keep their spirits and camaraderie high in the frightening circumstances," Michael added, saying that the atmosphere on board the ship was reminiscent of 'those frightening Covid times'.
"It’s very worrying, and there’s great uncertainty. But when large numbers of people are in close quarters, the risk of infection will always be high.
"The crew are doing their best, and we hope to stay out of danger and return to Tyrone safely."
Cruise ships are unfortunately environments where disease can spread rapidly as people are living close together and sharing the same space.
Other passengers on board the Ambition have told the BBC things are 'a wee bit scary but people are in mostly good spirits', as Carol Landa-Vance said they weren't allowed to the self-service buffet on Sunday while the pool and jacuzzi had also been closed.
David Munster said a number of passengers got ill after the cruise ship had made a stop in Liverpool and the unwell passengers are having to isolate in their cabins while the others are free to use what parts of the vessel are still open.
Topics: Cruise Ship, Travel, Health
Joe Harker