Personal Injury Solicitors

Passengers who fell ill on a Fred Olsen cruise liner have been awarded £280,000 in compensation after taking legal action against the company.

The passengers all developed symptoms of holiday gastroenteritis, including stomach cramps and sickness and diarrhoea.

The Daily Mail reports that a total of 130 passengers fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea on nine cruises on board Fred Olsen’s Boudicca cruise liner between October 2009 and May 2010.

The cruise company has denied liability for the illness which it said was an outbreak of Norovirus.

Norovirus is also known as winter vomiting flu and is a virulent infection which can develop and spread rapidly in communities such as hospitals, schools, care homes and cruise ships, where people are in close proximity to one another.

The illness usually clears up by itself within a few days – but in the case of the elderly or people with chronic conditions like COPD, diseases like cancer or impaired immune systems, serious symptoms can result and some cases of Norovirus may even be fatal.

Fred Olsen lines agreed to settle the claims without admitting liability – and said the outbreaks were caused by a higher than normal incidence of Norovirus in the UK.

Some of the holidaymakers had their Christmas and New Year ruined after being stuck down with the virus on board their cruise ship. However, a spokeswoman for Fred Olsen said that the company denied allegations over failings in hygiene on board their cruise liners.

“…Fred Olsen ensures that it upholds the most rigorous hygiene standards when preparing and serving food on board its ships…,” she said, adding that passengers on board Fred Olsen ships were made aware of the need for scrupulous hygiene to prevent illness on board.

“Unfortunately, from October 2009 to May 2010, there was a higher incidence than usual of gastric illness, also known as ‘Norovirus’ – or ‘winter vomiting virus’ – within communities in the United Kingdom, which is commonly identifiable in areas where people reside in close proximity,” said the spokeswoman for Fred Olsen.

“Most people do not report incidences, but on a cruise ship – where movement is restricted – cases are particularly highlighted.

“The virus – which is more contagious than the common cold and is spread very easily by contact with surfaces and from person to person – is also particularly prevalent during periods of cold weather.

“Symptoms of the illness include a sudden onset of vomiting and/or diarrhoea – some people may have a temperature, headache and stomach cramps. Commonly, the illness abates within one or two days.

“It is frustrating that – even with the extra preventative and containment measures that were put in place – a number of guests on board these cruises were affected by this illness.”
Severe cases of holiday gastroenteritis can lead to other serious conditions such as Crohn’s disease or post-infective irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), making it crucial for holidaymakers who fall ill to seek medical help as soon as possible – and see their GP for a diagnosis on returning home.

Duncan Lewis Solicitors for Holiday Accident & Illness Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise holidaymakers who have booked a package holiday how to make a no win no fee compensation claim if they fall ill or are injured on holiday through no fault of their own.

Holidaymakers who fall ill or who are injured on holiday have three years from the date of the incident to make a claim under the Package Travel Regulations 1992.

For expert legal advice on making no win no fee compensation claims for Holiday Accidents & Illness, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.