British couple confined to room after cruise illness outbreak on luxury liner
22/07/2010
A British couple have called for an apology from a leading cruise operator after an illness outbreak left them confirmed to their cabin with stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea.
John and Christine Stevens from Suffolk were among a group of passengers affected by an outbreak of gastric illness onboard the Royal Caribbean ‘Jewel of the Seas’ liner on a cruise around the Baltic.
Royal Caribbean later announced to passengers that there had been an illness outbreak but Mr and Mrs Stevens reported that the company failed to handle the situation effectively.
The couple visited the ship’s onboard surgery but reported that they, and many other passengers, were “fobbed off” with Imodium and that passenger services were unable to provide them with food and drink in their cabin.
Since returning to the UK, the couple have instructed travel law experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate a compensation claim on their behalf.
Speaking of the couple’s experiences, Mr Stevens said: “With so many people concerned for their health, the queue at the surgery was very long and once you did get to see the doctor people were being seen three at a time and I was just fobbed off with Imodium.
“I spent most of my time confined to my room and reliant on room service, which was of very poor quality. We were unable to obtain food and drink during our confinement in spite of several phone calls to room service and one to Passenger Relations. It was definitely a holiday we will always remember, but for all the wrong reasons."
Amrita Sidhu of Irwin Mitchell is representing the couple. She said: “Illness outbreaks on holiday are always horrendous but they can be even more horrific when you are confined to a cruise ship.
“We are contacted by hundreds of holidaymakers every year whose cruises were ruined by illness. We would urge the ship’s owners Royal Caribbean to ensure that no other passengers have to suffer in the way Mr and Mrs Stevens have.”
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