Irwin Mitchell represents a couple who holidayed onboard the Artemis cruise ship, which is part of the P&O fleet. The Mediterranean cruise in September and October 2009 appeared to be fine for the first few days until Mr S was struck down with a severe gastric illness.
Mr S suffered from diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps for the remainder of his holiday, losing 1½ stones in weight. He was seen by a nurse in his cabin and also treated in the on-board clinic by the ship’s doctor, who prescribed antibiotics. The couple had to cancel 4 excursions due to Mr S’s illness. Despite having returned from his holiday in early October 2009, he continued to suffer from unpleasant gastric symptoms until the New Year.
Mr S said “The level of hygiene and cleanliness onboard the ship was very poor. My wife and I have been cruising for 30 years so we’re seasoned ‘cruisers’, and we’ve actually been using P&O for the last 12 years, and this is by far the worst cruise we have ever been on. We’re extremely disappointed with the whole experience, not just with the quality of the ship but also by the way our complaint was handled by P&O.”
If you have been affected by gastric illness following a stay on this cruise ship, you may be able to claim compensation for your ruined holiday and also the pain and suffering caused by the illness. For more advice on making a holiday illness claim, contact us on 0800 056 0066 or complete our enquiry form and we will call you back.