1,700 1,700 stranded on cruise ship amid suspected norovirus outbreak in France – National
French authorities on Wednesday detained 1,700 passengers and crew on a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after a passenger died and around 50 fell ill due to suspected gastrointestinal illness (GII), known as norovirus, Ambassador Cruise Line confirmed to Global News.
The ship, with 1,187 guests, most of them British and Irish, and 514 crew members, arrived in the French city on Tuesday, with French health officials on board.
“As of 11:00 a.m. UK time on 13 May 2026, there are forty-eight GII cases onboard Ambition and one crew case,” the cruise line told Global News in a statement.
The cause of death of the passenger, who was 90 years old, is still awaiting confirmation from the coroner, according to The Guardian.
The spike in cases appears to have occurred on May 9, following the entry into Liverpool on England’s north-west coast, the company said. The ship had left Belfast the day before the scheduled 14-day voyage.
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Upon arrival in Bordeaux, French authorities conducted a “routine” review of the ship’s health status and records and collected samples for laboratory testing at the Bordeaux University Hospital.
“While the investigation is ongoing, all guests and crew have been ordered to continue boarding under the supervision of the coastal authorities. Once agreed, the guests will be allowed to disembark,” the statement said.
“We would like to assure guests that we take any illness on board our ship very seriously. Enhanced sanitation and protective measures were immediately implemented throughout the ship in accordance with established public health procedures following the initial reports of illness,” it continued.
All shore excursions were canceled and refunded, and medical consultation related to GII was provided free of charge, the cruise liner said.
The outbreak comes amid an unrelated wave of hantavirus cases believed to have originated on a cruise ship docked in Cape Verde, a small island off the coast of West Africa, and reports of norovirus aboard a Caribbean cruise ship.
Earlier this week, more than 100 passengers and crew members fell ill during a norovirus outbreak on the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC said 102 passengers and 13 crew members reported being sick on the trip, which took place from April 28 to May 11.
Norovirus is highly contagious and thrives in close quarters, making cruise ships vulnerable to outbreaks, the US health agency says.
According to the CDC, norovirus can be contracted from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines, leading to abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
The Caribbean Princess outbreak comes more than a month after another norovirus outbreak was reported on the Star Princess cruise ship.
In March, the CDC reported that 141 passengers and 52 crew members became ill with norovirus on board the Star Princess. The cruise departed from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and made stops in the Caribbean, Honduras, Belize and the Mexican Riviera.
In April 2025, 240 people fell ill on Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, following a norovirus outbreak.
–– With files from Global News’ Katie Scott
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
