Cruise ship quarantine in France: Over 1,700 remain on board after passenger's death

A cruise ship with more than 1,700 passengers and crew members has been quarantined in the port of Bordeaux, France, following the death of a passenger and a suspected outbreak of gastroenteritis.

According to French media and the AFP agency, the vessel arrived in Bordeaux from Brest on the morning of May 13. Following this, health services began an emergency health check of the people on board. It is reported that about 50 people complained of symptoms of an acute intestinal infection, including vomiting and stomach upset.

Norovirus is preliminarily named as the cause of the illness — one of the most common forms of gastroenteritis, which spreads rapidly in confined spaces, including cruise ships. Medics note that the virus is highly contagious, especially in crowded conditions.

According to published information, the deceased passenger was 90 years old. French authorities have not yet confirmed the official cause of death, but the investigation continues.

The Ambassador Cruise Line ship was on a route with stops in the Shetland Islands, Belfast, Liverpool, and Brest, and was then scheduled to head to Spain. Most passengers are reported to be British and Irish citizens.

At the moment, there has been no official information regarding the presence of Cypriot citizens among the passengers or crew. French authorities and the cruise company have not yet published data on the national composition of everyone on board.