What It Is Really Like Being Stranded on the Cruise Ship Ambition With 1,700 People After a Virus Outbreak
Imagine setting off on a cruise holiday only to find yourself stuck on the ship, unable to step foot on dry land, while a virus spreads among the people around you. That is exactly the situation more than 1,700 passengers and crew members are dealing with right now aboard the cruise ship Ambition. The Ambassador Cruise Line vessel departed from Belfast on May 8 and is currently docked in Bordeaux, France, where local health authorities are refusing to allow anyone to disembark. At least 48 passengers and one crew member have been displaying symptoms consistent with a gastrointestinal illness, prompting the lockdown.
One passenger who has been willing to speak openly about the experience is Michael Gallagher, who is on board along with his wife Patsy. He described the atmosphere on the ship as “frightening” and said the two of them are safe but on high alert. Everyone on board has been told to shelter in place, and strict quarantine measures have been put into effect throughout the vessel. Michael noted that crew members dressed in full protective suits have been going through cabins spraying disinfectant, while hygiene and social distancing rules are being enforced to slow the spread of the illness.
Despite the tense situation, Michael expressed appreciation for how the crew has been handling things, saying they are doing the best they can under the circumstances. He compared the overall atmosphere on board to the early days of the Covid pandemic, which gives you a pretty clear sense of how serious the mood has become. He also pointed out that when large numbers of people are living in close proximity and sharing the same spaces, the risk of infection is always going to be elevated. Still, he said passengers are trying to keep their spirits up and maintain a sense of camaraderie throughout it all.
Other passengers have shared similar sentiments, with some telling the BBC that things are a little scary but that people are mostly holding up well. Carol Landa-Vance mentioned that access to the self-service buffet was cut off on Sunday, and that the pool and jacuzzi have also been closed down. Fellow passenger David Munster pointed out that a number of people began falling ill after the ship made a stop in Liverpool, and that those who are sick are now isolating in their cabins. The passengers who have not shown symptoms are still able to move around the parts of the ship that remain open.
Health authorities have been clear that this outbreak has no connection to the separate hantavirus situation that affected another cruise ship, the MV Hondius, in recent days. The gastrointestinal illness spreading through the Ambition is far more likely to be something like norovirus or food poisoning, which, while deeply unpleasant, is a known risk on vessels where people share dining and recreational spaces. There are currently 1,187 passengers and 514 crew members on board, all waiting for the situation to be resolved before they can finally go ashore. A 92-year-old passenger also passed away on board on May 10, though authorities have not yet established the cause of death, and he had not been showing any symptoms related to the illness.
Cruise ships are notoriously difficult environments when it comes to containing the spread of viruses, simply because so many people are living and eating in such close quarters for extended periods of time. What is happening on the Ambition is a stark reminder of how quickly things can unravel when illness takes hold at sea. Michael and Patsy Gallagher, like so many others on board, are simply hoping to stay safe and eventually make it back home to Tyrone in one piece. The situation is ongoing and authorities are continuing to monitor the ship closely as they work toward a resolution.
If you have thoughts on cruise ship safety or what should be done to better protect passengers when outbreaks like this occur, feel free to share them in the comments.
