France: French authorities have allowed asymptomatic passengers to disembark from the British cruise ship Ambition, following confirmation that a gastrointestinal virus caused a sickness outbreak onboard that initially prompted a full precautionary lockdown of more than 1,700 passengers and crew in the port of Bordeaux.
The local government and regional health agency said tests confirmed the outbreak was a viral gastrointestinal infection, with no evidence linking it to the hantavirus cases reported on another cruise ship, the MV Hondius, which has been associated with multiple deaths and international concern.
Authorities stated that no severe cases were detected on the Ambition. Passengers showing no symptoms were permitted to leave the vessel, while those infected were required to remain in isolation onboard under medical monitoring.
The lockdown was initially imposed as a precaution after concerns were raised due to overlapping international reports of cruise ship-related illnesses. Officials said the decision was taken to prevent panic, given heightened sensitivity following the hantavirus outbreak elsewhere.
The Ambition, operated by UK-based Ambassador Cruise Line, arrived in Bordeaux with 1,233 passengers, mostly from the United Kingdom and Ireland, and 514 crew members. According to officials, around 80 people developed symptoms consistent with acute digestive infection since the outbreak began earlier in the week while the ship was docked in Brest.
Health authorities confirmed that a 92-year-old British passenger died onboard due to a heart attack, and stated that there was no link between the death and the gastrointestinal illness. The man died before the ship reached northern France. His body remains onboard in accordance with international maritime procedures.
The cruise initially departed from the Shetland Islands on May 6, with stops in Belfast and Liverpool before arriving in France. The vessel was scheduled to continue its route toward Spain and was originally expected to return to Liverpool on May 22.
Passengers reported mixed conditions during the onboard restriction period. Some described limited disruption and continued onboard activities, while others reported illness within cabins. One passenger noted that sanitation measures had been increased and compared conditions to earlier pandemic-era restrictions.
Authorities said symptoms peaked while the vessel was docked in Brest, prompting the initial lockdown decision. The cruise operator reported that illness cases increased after passengers boarded in Liverpool, and said it was cooperating with health authorities.
French officials confirmed that the situation is now stabilizing, with restrictions partially lifted and continued isolation measures in place only for those affected.