Queen Mary 2 Christmas cruise hits by norovirus

Around 200 passengers caught the virus while on board, reports have confirmed.

10:49 30 December 2012

It was supposed to be a great, luxurious Christmas Cruise for 2,600 people when they board Queen Mary 2, the most expensive ocean liner ever built. However, guests started feeling sick and suffered from diarrhea within hours of leaving the port.

Guests said that the virus made the trip less festive. They added that they can’t even shake hands with other people on board. Holidaymakers who were attending church services were even given Holy Communion by a vicar in globes as a precautionary measure.

 

One guest was quoted saying ‘The mood is very sombre, it’s not the Christmas atmosphere we were hoping for.’

 

‘There is a sense of foreboding, with everyone worried that they will be next to come down with the illness.

 

‘The crew are trying their best, continually washing down handrails and lifts, but more cases are being reported each day, it’s not at all enjoyable.’

 

Spokeswoman for Carnival, the owner of luxury ship, said that there were only 18 people with active symptoms on December 27. However, she admitted that five percent or at least 130 passengers were already been affected.