French authorities on Wednesday confined 1,700 passengers and crew to a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after a passenger died and about 50 fell sick with suspected gastrointestinal illness (GII), otherwise referred to as norovirus, the Ambassador Cruise Line confirmed to Global News.
The ship, which has 1,187 guests on board, the vast majority of whom are British and Irish nationals, and 514 crew, arrived within the French town on Tuesday, where French health officials boarded.
“As of 11:00 a.m. UK time on 13 May 2026, there are forty-eight lively guest cases of GII onboard Ambition and one crew case,” the cruise liner told Global News in an announcement.
The reason for death for the passenger, who was 90, is pending confirmation from the coroner, in accordance with The Guardian.
The uptick in cases seems to have occurred on May 9, following embarkation in Liverpool on England’s northwest coast, the corporate said. The ship had departed from Belfast a day prior on a planned 14-day tour.
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Upon arrival in Bordeaux, French authorities conducted a “routine” review of the ship’s health status and records and picked up samples for lab testing at Bordeaux University Hospital.
“While the investigation and testing are ongoing, all guests and crew have been instructed to stay onboard under the direction of the local shore authorities. Once clearance is granted, guests shall be permitted to disembark,” the statement said.
“We would really like to reassure guests that we take any illnesses aboard our fleet extremely seriously. Enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols were immediately implemented across the ship consistent with established public health procedures following the initial reports of illness,” it continued.
All shore excursions were cancelled and refunded, and medical consultations referring to GII are being provided freed from charge, the cruise liner said.
The outbreak comes amid an unrelated wave of hantavirus cases believed to have originated on a cruise ship moored in Cape Verde, a small island off the coast of West Africa, and reports of norovirus aboard a Caribbean cruise.
Earlier this week, greater than 100 passengers and crew members fell sick during a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC said that 102 passengers and 13 crew members reported becoming sick in the course of the voyage, which took place from April 28 to May 11.
Norovirus is very contagious and thrives in places where people gather in close quarters, making cruise ships prone to outbreaks, the U.S. health organization says.
In line with the CDC, norovirus will be contracted from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines, resulting in stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
The outbreak on the Caribbean Princess comes greater than a month after one other norovirus outbreak was reported on the cruise line’s Star Princess ship.
In March, the CDC reported that 141 passengers and 52 crew members became sick with norovirus aboard the Star Princess cruise ship. The ship left Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and made stops within the Caribbean, Honduras, Belize and the Mexican Riviera.
In April 2025, 240 people had fallen sick on the Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, following a norovirus outbreak.
–– With files from Global News’ Katie Scott
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