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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Liner 'like hospital prison ship' | Liner 'like hospital prison ship' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A passenger has described confinement on a cruise liner hit by an outbreak of a vomiting bug as like being on a "hospital prison ship". | A passenger has described confinement on a cruise liner hit by an outbreak of a vomiting bug as like being on a "hospital prison ship". |
| Derek Cloke said people were waiting to fall sick on board the Marco Polo, which has been berthed at Invergordon on the Cromarty Firth since Monday. | Derek Cloke said people were waiting to fall sick on board the Marco Polo, which has been berthed at Invergordon on the Cromarty Firth since Monday. |
| Its departure was delayed because of the numbers of the crew and passengers who took unwell. | Its departure was delayed because of the numbers of the crew and passengers who took unwell. |
| NHS Highland said tests have shown the bug to be norovirus. | |
| Several people among up to 120 who have now left the ship praised its staff. | |
| The liner is due to leave for Tilbury in Essex - the port from where it departed at the weekend - at 2200 BST. | The liner is due to leave for Tilbury in Essex - the port from where it departed at the weekend - at 2200 BST. |
| Cleaners, kitchen workers, the vessel's medical team and local doctors and nurses were thanked for their response to the incident. | Cleaners, kitchen workers, the vessel's medical team and local doctors and nurses were thanked for their response to the incident. |
| However, passengers complained about a lack of information on the virus, its spread and plans to take them off the ship. | However, passengers complained about a lack of information on the virus, its spread and plans to take them off the ship. |
| The ship's staff and medical staff have been absolutely marvellous Phyllis HamiltonPassenger | The ship's staff and medical staff have been absolutely marvellous Phyllis HamiltonPassenger |
| Some sourced details on what was happening from BBC News, the BBC Scotland news website and Sky TV. | Some sourced details on what was happening from BBC News, the BBC Scotland news website and Sky TV. |
| Mr Cloke told BBC Scotland: "Management I have to say was poor, it was really poor. | Mr Cloke told BBC Scotland: "Management I have to say was poor, it was really poor. |
| "I have never been through such a traumatic experience. | "I have never been through such a traumatic experience. |
| "It felt like you were sitting on a hospital prison ship waiting to get sick - death row if you like." | "It felt like you were sitting on a hospital prison ship waiting to get sick - death row if you like." |
| Mr Cloke and his wife Pam were among up to 120 passengers to have taken a chartered train from Inverness for their journey home. | Mr Cloke and his wife Pam were among up to 120 passengers to have taken a chartered train from Inverness for their journey home. |
| One of those who took ill, Phyllis Hamilton from Fairlie, Ayrshire, said: "The ship's staff and medical staff have been absolutely marvellous." | One of those who took ill, Phyllis Hamilton from Fairlie, Ayrshire, said: "The ship's staff and medical staff have been absolutely marvellous." |
| 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. | 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 added: "I must speak most highly about the ship's staff and medical staff. | Mrs Hamilton added: "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." | "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. | 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." | 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. | 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 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. | The Marco Polo is expected to arrive at Tilbury docks on Saturday. |
| NHS Highland said 400 people have been assessed after becoming unwell. | |
| The health board said results of tests taken from passengers have confirmed the outbreak is the winter vomiting bug norovirus. | |
| Seven people have been taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. | Seven people have been taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. |
| Are you on board the Marco Polo? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Are you on board the Marco Polo? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |