More than 1,200 passengers were temporarily prevented from leaving a British cruise ship in France after dozens of people onboard reportedly came down with a suspected stomach virus outbreak.
French health officials say the cruise ship Ambition docked in the city of Bordeaux on Tuesday evening after traveling from Belfast and Liverpool carrying mostly British and Irish passengers.
But instead of heading out to enjoy their vacation stop, passengers suddenly found themselves stuck onboard while authorities investigated nearly 50 suspected cases of gastroenteritis — commonly known as the stomach flu.
According to officials, 48 passengers and one crew member were showing gastrointestinal symptoms as of Wednesday morning.
The outbreak sparked immediate concern from French health authorities, who temporarily blocked all 1,233 passengers and 514 crew members from disembarking while medical testing was carried out.
Cruise operator Ambassador Cruise Line said enhanced sanitation procedures were immediately introduced across the ship to try to contain the illness.
Officials also stressed that the outbreak does not appear connected to a separate hantavirus scare recently reported on another cruise vessel.
Authorities described the restriction as a precautionary measure while investigators worked to determine exactly what caused the illnesses.
As a result, all scheduled shore excursions in Bordeaux were canceled, and passengers were offered full refunds for the missed activities.
“Once clearance is granted, guests will be permitted to disembark,” the cruise line said in a statement posted online.
The Ambition cruise ship primarily caters to older travelers and is operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, a British company launched in 2021.
Adding to the tension onboard, officials also confirmed that a 92-year-old British passenger died earlier in the voyage after suffering a cardiac arrest during a stop in Brest, France.
However, authorities say the death does not currently appear linked to the gastrointestinal outbreak.
Health experts note that stomach illnesses are relatively common on cruise ships because viruses can spread extremely quickly in enclosed environments where thousands of passengers share dining areas, elevators, bathrooms, and public spaces.
The CDC has already reported multiple cruise ship outbreaks this year involving illnesses like norovirus and E. coli.
While gastroenteritis is usually not life-threatening, it can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and complications — especially in elderly passengers.
For now, health officials continue monitoring the ship as passengers wait to learn when they’ll finally be allowed back on land.