Refunds for sick Norway cruise
Tuesday, 30 May 2006 11:02
The MV Van Gogh was held in Harwich after passengers and crew fell ill
Nearly 500 holidaymakers have been offered refunds after a virus broke out aboard the cruise ship they were due to take around Norway.
Cruise operator Travelscope has offered refunds to hundreds of holidaymakers who were due to board the MV Van Gogh, but were stopped from doing so after around 100 people fell ill.
The ship was on its second day of a week-long cruise in Norway.
MV Van Gogh was docked in Harwich when the virus, norovirus, broke out. The illness, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, meant an elderly couple had to be stretchered off the ship and taken to a hospital in Essex. They have since been discharged.
It is thought that the illness was brought on board the ship by a passenger from a previous cruise. It is spread through physical contact and by consuming contaminated food and water.
The MV Van Gogh is now being disinfected. Travelscope is offering compensation to passengers who paid between £400 and £1,400 for their cruise, and were unable to board.
As for those who were actually ill, Travelscope is deciding what compensation to offer. A spokesman for the company, Tim Knight, said: "We would not normally offer compensation for people who fall sick."
The MV Van Gogh's touring programme is expected to continue, with the next scheduled cruise departing on June 3rd for a ten-night jaunt around Norway.