Gastro Outbreak On Board Balmoral

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm that a number of persons currently on board its ship Balmoral have demonstrated symptoms of a viral infection with mild gastro-enteritis. 

The total number of passengers on board is 1,280 with 516 crew.  There has so far been a total of 96 passengers and 5 crew are affected, 71 are in isolation in their cabins to avoid further spread of the virus, 30 passengers have now been released.  It is believed that the virus was introduced to the ship by a passenger who proved to be unwell shortly after departing from Dover.

The ship, currently on a nine-night Around the British Isles cruise, departed Dover on Saturday 5th September, and is due to end its cruise in Dover on 14th September.  The first port of call was Invergordon, but due to very heavy seas the next port of call – Kirkwall in Orkney – has been cancelled and the ship remained at anchor off Portree on the Isle of Skye, until the weather improved.  She is currently at anchor in Tobermory and then will sail on to Dublin, Falmouth and St Peter Port before returning to Dover.

In accordance with guidelines set down by the Health Protection Agency, staff throughout Balmoral have stepped up their already fastidious hygiene and disinfecting regime. 

The winter vomiting virus is extremely common and ranks second to the common cold.  The virus, which is highly infectious, causes unpleasant but generally short-lived infection lasting 1 – 2 days from which people will usually recover without treatment.