Key Aspects:
- An undisclosed number of gastrointestinal illness cases have been reported aboard Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition.
- While testing by French authorities is underway, all tours for Bordeaux on Wednesday, May 13 are cancelled and will be refunded.
- Enhanced cleaning and other protocols are in place onboard, including guest isolation where applicable.
Shore excursions can be a fantastic and convenient way to enjoy a port of call, whether guests prefer a highlights tour, deeper immersion into historical sites, adventure outings, or foodie explorations.
Unfortunately for guests onboard Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition, there will be no tours to explore Bordeaux, France, on Wednesday, May 13, due to a gastrointestinal outbreak on the ship.
The cancellation of all shore tours for the day is a precaution taken in accordance with local protocols as testing is conducted prior to debarkation clearance. Because the testing can take several hours, shore tours cannot be accommodated at this time.
“Ambassador Cruise Line can confirm that a number of guests and crew onboard Ambition have displayed or are displaying symptoms consistent with gastrointestinal illness,” the cruise line stated on Facebook. “As part of the vessel’s scheduled call into Bordeaux, we followed due protocol and advised the French health authorities of the situation.”
Ambition departed Belfast for the 14-night sailing on Friday, May 8, with additional guests boarding the ship the next day in Liverpool. Following a call to Brest, France on Monday, May 11, the call to Bordeaux was planned for Wednesday, May 13.
Once the 48,200-gross-ton ship arrived in Bordeaux in the early morning hours, a French specialist medical team boarded the vessel to review records and collect samples for testing. That testing, which is being conducted at the infectious diseases department of Bordeaux University Hospital approximately 12 miles from the cruise terminal, will take at least six hours to complete.
French health authorities, however, are clear that there is no connection between this outbreak and the recent hantavirus outbreak onboard MV Hondius.
“There is no reason to link this outbreak on board a cruise ship from Belfast and Liverpool with the hantavirus cases detected on the MV Hondius,” Agence Regionale de Sante Nouvelle-Aqutaine stated in a release.
Ambition is scheduled to remain in Bordeaux from just after 5 a.m. on Wednesday until 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.
All guests and crew members will remain onboard the ship until the investigation and testing are complete. Because of the timing, all shore excursions scheduled for Bordeaux on Wednesday are cancelled and guests will receive full refunds for those tours.
Any tours that may be planned for Thursday should go ahead as scheduled, pending the outcome of the testing. Guests will also be permitted to debark the ship to explore Bordeaux on their own once medical authorities have cleared the vessel.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the medical team for their exceptional care, professionalism, and unwavering support during this time. Their swift response and continued commitment have been invaluable,” the cruise line noted.
How Many Cases Are Reported?
No details on the number of guests and crew members exhibiting symptoms of gastrointestinal illness have been confirmed, but Agence Regionale de Sante Nouvelle-Aquitaine notes that “up to fifty” passengers have reported symptoms.
Ambition can welcome 1,248 guests at double occupancy or up to 1,727 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled. The ship is also home to approximately 670 international crew members.
Enhanced sanitation protocols are already in effect to minimize any further spread of the illness. Measures such as more frequent cleaning, crew-served dining rather than self-serve, and guidance for proper handwashing and hand sanitizer use are all being implemented.
Guests reporting symptoms are being checked by the medical team and isolated as appropriate. Those currently onboard the ship are full of praise for the professional and compassionate way the situation is being handled and there is no panic about possible contagion.
“We’ve been looked after really well, staff doing their very best, room service and plenty [of] water provided, non-stop cleaning. Just one of those things,” one guest said.
The exact type of illness has not yet been identified. According to FoodSafety.gov, norovirus, salmonella, and e. coli are just a few easily spread gastrointestinal bugs that can cause very similar symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea.
Cruise Hive frequently reports on such outbreaks, which can happen on any cruise line and ships of any size. Most recently, more than 100 guests and crew have been ill with norovirus on Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess.
“The health, safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew remains our highest priority, and we are sincerely grateful for the patience, understanding and cooperation shown while these precautionary measures remain in place,” Ambassador Cruise Line commented.
The remainder of Ambition‘s itinerary includes several port visits in Spain and France before returning to Belfast on Friday, May 22. At this time, there is no confirmed change to the ship’s schedule.
