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Legal 500 - Transport (2011)
British Tourists To Take Legal Action After Suffering Illness On Island Escape Cruise
Published date:
02 Mar 2010
Travel lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have called for an investigation into hygiene standards on the Island Escape cruise ship after being contacted by more than 70 passengers who fell ill on the ship.
So far holidaymakers have reported suffering with diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, stomach cramps, weight loss and lethargy. Norovirus has been confirmed for many of those travelling, while two people spent three days in a Tenerife hospital.
The Island Escape cruise ship is part of the Thomson fleet and sails around the Mediterranean and to the Canaries.
Mark Watts of Irwin Mitchell said: “We had complaints about the Island Escape cruise liner in 2008 and there were reports of illness in 2009 so to see large numbers of people coming to us again this year is very disturbing.
“Over the years we have represented hundreds of cruise ship passengers who have fallen ill during cruises in different parts of the world, and most of them could have avoided suffering illness if adequate steps to prevent the spread of illness had been taken by the cruise lines they were travelling with.
“Strict safety and hygiene procedures must be followed on board all cruise ships including quarantining those with illness symptoms, increasing cleaning and disinfection measures on board, warning all passengers to take special care with hygiene and a range of other measures to reduce the risk of infection.”
A number of passengers have complained about the quality of the cruise liner, which has been labelled “very shabby and grubby”.
Mr Watts added: “We urge all cruise line and tour operators to ensure that all relevant steps are taken to prevent further illness among passengers on their ships.”
Jill Nettleship and Robert Fox of Sheffield were among passengers on the ship in January. They travelled with Mr Fox’s elderly parents, but had to leave the ship early due to illness.
Both Miss Nettleship and Mr Fox were seen by a doctor on the ship and hospitalised in Tenerife for three days. The couple continue to suffer symptoms now that they are back in the UK.
Miss Nettleship said: “Due to their age, Robert’s parents lack confidence in going on holiday alone, and they had even considered giving up going on holiday. Robert and I thought we would all go together so that we could take care of them. However, our trip turned into a nightmare when we had to leave the ship and were put in hospital for three days. Robert’s mum and dad ended up having to travel home by themselves, and they were in tears about this. It was so distressing for them.
“When you go on a cruise, you expect good standards of health and hygiene, and you assume that the holiday will be a once in a lifetime experience. It certainly wasn’t the holiday we were expecting.”
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We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your team…Your professionalism, advice and guidance throughout the entire claim was invaluable to us.
Michael and Janice, Telford