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Bug liner passengers to head home Passengers praise bug liner staff
(about 4 hours later)
Passengers on the ship at the centre of a virus outbreak in the Cromarty Firth are to start their journey home. Cruise ship staff and medical professionals have been praised by passengers for their response to a virus outbreak onboard.
The Marco Polo has been berthed at Invergordon since Monday, after nearly 400 people caught a vomiting bug. Seven people were taken to hospital. The Marco Polo has been berthed at Invergordon since Monday, after nearly 400 people caught a vomiting bug.
Passengers have been offered the option of returning by rail from Inverness in a train chartered by the cruise operators Transocean Tours of Bremen. Up to 120 passengers have taken a chartered train for their journey home.
They can also stay on board the ship, which will set sail for Essex at noon. One of those who took ill, Phyllis Hamilton, from Fairlie, Ayrshire, said: "The ship's staff and medical staff have been absolutely marvellous."
It is thought that most of the 769 passengers will stay with the vessel, which is scheduled to arrive at Tilbury docks on Saturday. Other passengers also applauded the actions of the crew - particularly the cleaners and kitchen personnel - but complained about a lack of information on the virus, its spread and plans to take them off the ship.
Some of the passengers raised a petition against plans to get them home by train, which is due to leave Inverness at 1000 BST, calling at York, Peterborough and London. I know it is a cliche, but everyone has been treated wonderfully Linda RussellPassenger
Legal action Some sourced details on what was happening from BBC News, the BBC Scotland news website and Sky TV.
Helen Winchcombe, who is on board the ship, said: "It was such relief on the ship that we can go back to sea and not have to struggle on trains or buses." The ship's own medical team backed by local doctors and NHS Highland nurses have been assessing and treating passengers both onboard and at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Mrs Hamilton said: "I must speak most highly about the ship's staff and medical staff.
"District nurses and local doctors took turns to come in and we were looked after by the kitchen staff who came round with invalid food."
Her husband Douglas, who also took unwell, said the bug spread "quite dramatically" through the ship.
Linda Russell, from the Midlands, who was on her first cruise with her family, said: "We are very disappointed with the turn of events, but I have got to say, and I know it is a cliche, but everyone has been treated wonderfully."
Trevor Pitt, from Weston-super-Mare, said he hoped to be refunded for the part of the round Britain cruise that was not completed.
The majority of the 769 passengers have remained with the vessel, operated by Transocean Tours of Bremen.
The Marco Polo is expected to arrive at Tilbury docks on Saturday.
NHS Highland said 400 people have been assessed after becoming unwell, and the health board is awaiting results of tests to confirm whether the outbreak is the winter vomiting bug norovirus.NHS Highland said 400 people have been assessed after becoming unwell, and the health board is awaiting results of tests to confirm whether the outbreak is the winter vomiting bug norovirus.
Six people have been taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Seven people have been taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
A post-mortem revealed that another passenger, 74-year-old Roy Sillett from Norwich, died from heart and lung disease on board the ship on Monday.
The procurator fiscal would not say whether Mr Sillett was suffering from the vomiting bug.
It emerged on Wednesday that the London Port Health Authority was considering taking legal action against the vessel.
The master of the ship has been accused of failing to notify the authority of illness aboard the vessel when it docked on the Thames at the weekend.
The ship's owners have made no comment about the claim but said on Tuesday that the Marco Polo had been given a "clean bill of health" at the port, before it sailed north on its tour of the British Isles.
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