Family's cruise 'spoilt by illness'
A woman from the south Shropshire border today claimed her family's Christmas was spoilt when her son-in-law became ill on a cruise.A woman from the south Shropshire border today claimed her family's Christmas was spoilt when her son-in-law became ill on a cruise. Catherine Kidd, of Leintwardine, said Luke Ryan fell ill during the cruise to the Canary Islands. Mrs Kidd and her husband Brian, Mr Ryan, daughter Emma and granddaughter Abigail were among more than 500 passengers affected by outbreaks of norovirus on board two cruise ships. The family was on holiday on the Boudicca run by Fred Olsen from December 22 until January 4, when the voyage finished a day early for the ship to be cleaned. Mrs Kidd said: "There were people vacuuming up the carpet and people in special suits, it was quite unpleasant. The rest of us were fortunate not to catch anything, but Luke being ill kind of spoilt it for all of us." Read the Shropshire Star for more
A woman from the south Shropshire border today claimed her family's Christmas was spoilt when her son-in-law became ill on a cruise.
Catherine Kidd, of Leintwardine, said Luke Ryan fell ill during the cruise to the Canary Islands. Mrs Kidd and her husband Brian, Mr Ryan, daughter Emma and granddaughter Abigail were among more than 500 passengers affected by outbreaks of norovirus on board two cruise ships.
The family was on holiday on the Boudicca run by Fred Olsen from December 22 until January 4, when the voyage finished a day early for the ship to be cleaned.
Mrs Kidd said: "There were people vacuuming up the carpet and people in special suits, it was quite unpleasant. The rest of us were fortunate not to catch anything, but Luke being ill kind of spoilt it for all of us."
Law firm Irwin Mitchell, which represents the Kidds and more than 30 others affected by outbreaks on the two ships, is pressing for compensation and an immediate review of hygiene procedures.
Clive Garner, head of travel litigation at the firm, said: "We are acting for a number of passengers who became ill after taking cruises on Fred Olsen ships the Boudicca and Balmoral."
A spokesman for Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said: "Every precaution possible is taken to prevent any gastro-type virus coming on board, from asking passengers to complete a medical questionnaire before embarkation to using sanitising gel every time they board the ship or enter any eating area.
"The sanitising gel is also readily available around the vessels in all public areas. There are constant reminders to everyone to pay attention to personal hygiene."
He said all its ships followed a very strict set of procedures and protocols, approved by the relevant authorities, in the event of a gastro-like virus being brought on board.
He said said the cruise had ended a day early to allow for thorough cleansing and disinfection. All passengers were refunded a day and each given £100. Those confined to cabins received 50 per cent of the daily rate paid for each day they were ill.
