P&O hit by compensation claims from 100-plus passengers after falling in poor health on cruise | UK | News | EUROtoday

More than 100 individuals have submitted a declare for compensation after falling in poor health on a cruise ship.

Lawyers representing the claimants say that there have been “repeated outbreaks” onboard a P&O Ventura ferry between April and June.

In May, 519 travellers skilled norovirus signs shortly after the ship set sail from Southampton for a two-week cruise.

The guardian firm Carnival had been accused of downplaying the matter by claiming that lower than 1% of passengers had been affected.

But figures from Southampton’s port well being authority present that the quantity was nearer to 12%.

Passengers onboard earlier sailings have stated that issues with abdomen bugs had occurred throughout their stays.

The unfold appeared to start round April 20, with 92 individuals taken in poor health on Ventura’s 10-day cruise round Spain and Portugal.

More than 300 individuals -16% of passengers – have been taken in poor health throughout its 19-night cruise to the Mediterranean, which departed Southampton on April 26.

And just below 12% of passengers reported signs on the next cruise – a three-night journey to Belgium on May 15.

Norovirus is a abdomen bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea, and the germs can’t be killed with alcohol hand gel.

According to the NHS, “it can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about two days.”

Although the principle signs can go away after a few days, fairly often, it could possibly take as much as every week for individuals to totally recuperate, that means that for a lot of, the bug ruined costly holidays.

Hudgell Solicitors stated it was engaged on behalf of 115 holidaymakers to hunt compensation for “illness, loss of enjoyment and losses”.

Anne Thomson, a lawyer on the agency, stated it was “undeniable” that the sickness had been rife on Ventura.

Ms Thomson stated: “Let’s not forget, it’s not just the time people are confined to the cabin and are too ill to leave, but also the impact it has on the rest of their holiday, as it takes some time to recover from feeling so unwell to again fully enjoy the facilities, restaurants, and locations and days out.”

A P&O spokesperson stated: “We are sorry some of our guests may have been affected and we will be responding to the letter of claim in due course.”