Cruise ship delayed in Southampton after norovirus outbreak

Celebrity Cruises, stock image. PA

A suspected outbreak of norovirus on a cruise ship caused a delay in departure at Southampton while it was deep cleaned.

According to the BBC, Celebrity Cruises' vessel Constellation arrived at the city's port at the end of a 12-night cruise at 6am.

Southampton's Port Health Authority said around 350 passengers had fallen ill with the vomiting and diarrhoea bug, which led to its departure being delayed until 8pm while deep cleaning took place.

Rose Zambra of the authority confirmed there were 'concerns over increased levels of what appeared to be norovirus' several days before the ship arrived.

There were about 2,200 passengers and 900 crew members on the wine cruise around the coasts of France and Spain.

A health authority representative has since been on board to inspect the cabins and public areas that have been deep cleaned.

Passenger David Mattey told the BBC that his holiday has been 'completely ruined' when he fell ill with severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

'The sanitation on that ship is bad,' he said.

A Celebrity Cruises statement said the crew was conducting 'extra cleaning and sanitising on board the ship and within the cruise terminal as preventative measures.'

The firm said its hygiene procedures on board were 'comprehensive and always strictly adhered to'.

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