They claim toilets, cabins and other areas were not clean and food was not kept safe
A group of more than 60 passengers who fell seriously ill onboard a P&O cruise ship are taking legal action after their luxury trips turned into “nightmare” holidays. The holidaymakers said they suffered vomiting and diarrhoea after boarding the MV Ventura to embark on sunshine breaks around the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.
Many were confined to their cabins after suffering gastric illness on the ship and some say they are still feeling the effects months later. Others complained the ship appeared dirty and run-down while some said there were flies around the buffet area, which they claim was left uncovered.
Dozens of passengers are now suing P&O’s parent company Carnival UK after claiming illness outbreaks onboard the cruise liner over the last two years. Among them are Jason Howard, 53, and his sons Lewis, 14, and Jacob, 12, who boarded the Ventura in Southampton on May 24 for a one-week cruise around Spain and France.
It was booked to celebrate Lewis’ birthday and cost the family almost £3,000. Two days into the holiday, Lewis was struck down with diarrhoea and vomiting while Jacob suffered with the same symptoms two days later. The family, from Worthing, West Sussex, were advised to isolate in their room and it wasn’t long before Jason, a personal trainer, also fell ill with similar symptoms.
Lewis and Jacob recovered after a few days. However, Jason continued to suffer from bloating, headaches and dizziness. He also has ongoing bowel complications. Jason said: “We were all really looking forward to our holiday and couldn’t wait to start sampling the different foods and activities on board.
“But what was meant to be a memorable birthday for Lewis became memorable for all the wrong reasons. Prior to getting on the ship, we were told that boarding was pushed back two hours for enhanced cleaning, but when we got on, our cabin was filthy.
“There was rubbish and used contact lenses on the floor, the skirting boards were dirty and it was clear the room hadn’t been hoovered. I had to complain three times before it was cleaned properly. The public toilets on the 15th deck by the main pool were also filthy and we avoided using them altogether.
“When it came to the buffet, the food on offer appeared to be very repetitive. We had hoped to eat at some of the other restaurants but then we became ill and had to stay in our rooms. There were only a couple of days that we managed to spend properly as a family throughout the entire holiday.
“The whole ordeal was awful and I’m still not right to this day. All I want now are some answers; it’s the least we deserve.”
A retired couple from Southport, Merseyside, were also struck down with illness on a cruise to celebrate their birthdays. Steve and Lynn Smith boarded on May 10 for a two-week break around the Canary Islands and Maderia. It was booked for their respective belated 65th and 60th birthdays, costing over £2,500.
Lynn began to feel unwell after around two days with chest infection-type symptoms which developed into vomiting and diarrhoea the following day. She reported that she was vomiting every 10 minutes for around two hours. She also suffered from aches, pains and fatigue. She contacted the medical centre and was advised to stay in her room.
Steve fell ill a few hours later with vomiting and a high temperature. A doctor onboard came to his cabin to check on him. Following their return home, the retired couple contacted their GPs. One month on, they still feel run down and tired, and their appetites are still not back to normal. Steve said: “We were looking forward to our holiday to celebrate our belated birthdays but it was a nightmare from start to finish.
“We didn’t even get to leave the ship to go on any excursions as we fell ill pretty early into the holiday. We weren’t the only ones either, and we even saw someone being sick in the restaurant. When I think back, it’s no wonder really as the food was served uncovered and seemed to be repeated during different mealtimes.
“There were also flies on the food, which is really not something I’d expect on a cruise. Even the ship itself looked run down, and theatre entertainment was cancelled due to staff illness so it was clear to us that something wasn’t right. Neither of us feel 100 per cent since coming home and we know there’s nothing that can change what happened, but we need to know why.”
One granddad and grandson who fell severely ill on board the vessel said brown water ran from the taps and staff used damp cloths to wipe down surfaces instead of disinfectant. John Lowe, 82, and his 19-year-old grandson George Close had paid £6,500 for their Christmas cruise to the Canary Islands and Portugal.
They boarded the Ventura in Southampton on December 17 but three days in, John, of Benfleet, Essex, started suffering with sickness and diarrhoea. George, a bus driver, fell ill the following day and both remained poorly for the rest of the cruise.
Jatinder Paul, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing a total of 67 passengers, said: “The latest news of illness onboard the Ventura and the symptoms our clients are reporting is a concern. The effects of gastric illness should never be downplayed as, in some cases, it can lead to serious long term and permanent health complications.
“While nothing can change what our clients have been through, we’re determined to provide them with the answers they deserve. It’s also vital that if any issues are found in relation to the Ventura, these are resolved immediately to prevent others from suffering similar illness.”
A P&O Cruises spokesperson said: “We have received a letter from a law firm and we are investigating the allegations made.”
