It would seem lightening does strike twice. Balmoral, who had to cut short a cruise earlier this month due to passengers suffering from a vomiting bug, has again picked up the bug for a second time in a month.
The ship is currently on its way back to Southampton at the end of a 13 night cruise but it is not known how many passengers have been infected with the bug. A spokesperson for Fred Olsen has expressed their frustration that such an incident within a short space of time has happened.
"It is very frustrating that, even though we went to great lengths to "deep clean" and sanitise the ship before this cruise set sail, a number of guests have been affected by gastric illness"
"The number of guests affected is smaller than on the previous sailing, but it is very disappointing that any guests should have their cruise holiday impacted in this unfortunate way"
As a precaution, the passengers who are affected are in quarantine conditions within their cabins in order for the risk of spreading further to be reduced.
" The gastro-enteritis virus is spread very easily by contact with surfaces and from person-to-person, and all Fred Olsen guests are made aware of the importance of meticulous hygiene at all times." the spokesperson added.
Precautions are made before each cruise by the company and pre-cruise medical questionnaires are mandatory to embarking guests. Sanitation stations are situated around the ship and are also at the gangway for embarking the ship.
However it may be stressed that the illness may be brought on board by passengers or crew and is not necessarily the fault of the ship. Hygiene on board a cruise ship is vitally important as disease and illness can spread quickly in such an enclosed environment.
Fred Olsen are adamant that they provide the best care to hygiene on their ships and offer the highest service of sanitation.
"At Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, the health, safety and well-being of all our guests and crew is paramount and we believe that our systems for preventing the spread of illness on board our ships are amongst the best within the industry."
Balmoral is due to return to Southampton on Sunday 24th May and is scheduled to depart later that day on a seven night cruise calling in at Amsterdam and Antwerp.
The ship is currently on its way back to Southampton at the end of a 13 night cruise but it is not known how many passengers have been infected with the bug. A spokesperson for Fred Olsen has expressed their frustration that such an incident within a short space of time has happened.
"It is very frustrating that, even though we went to great lengths to "deep clean" and sanitise the ship before this cruise set sail, a number of guests have been affected by gastric illness"
"The number of guests affected is smaller than on the previous sailing, but it is very disappointing that any guests should have their cruise holiday impacted in this unfortunate way"
As a precaution, the passengers who are affected are in quarantine conditions within their cabins in order for the risk of spreading further to be reduced.
" The gastro-enteritis virus is spread very easily by contact with surfaces and from person-to-person, and all Fred Olsen guests are made aware of the importance of meticulous hygiene at all times." the spokesperson added.
Precautions are made before each cruise by the company and pre-cruise medical questionnaires are mandatory to embarking guests. Sanitation stations are situated around the ship and are also at the gangway for embarking the ship.
However it may be stressed that the illness may be brought on board by passengers or crew and is not necessarily the fault of the ship. Hygiene on board a cruise ship is vitally important as disease and illness can spread quickly in such an enclosed environment.
Fred Olsen are adamant that they provide the best care to hygiene on their ships and offer the highest service of sanitation.
"At Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, the health, safety and well-being of all our guests and crew is paramount and we believe that our systems for preventing the spread of illness on board our ships are amongst the best within the industry."
Balmoral is due to return to Southampton on Sunday 24th May and is scheduled to depart later that day on a seven night cruise calling in at Amsterdam and Antwerp.