A ‘CURSED’ cruise ship has suffered yet more problems after a vomiting bug broke out for the second time in a week.

Luxury liner Oriana is due to dock in Southampton on Thursday amid a suspected Norovirus outbreak on yet another difficult journey.

So far four of 1,740 passengers returning from on its Northern Cape winter cruise have been struck by the highly contagious bug.

The crew is desperately trying to contain the illness which comes just a week after the 12-day Norwegian cruise was delayed due to an outbreak on its previous voyage around the Canary Islands, when the ship also suffered propeller problems.

As previously reported the liner was delayed by 12 hours leaving Southampton on March 2 after previous passengers went down with Norovirus.

But P&O Cruises bosses insist the vessel will return to port in Southampton on schedule on a day where city chiefs have moved to avert travel chaos by telling motorists to avoid the city when it returns alongside the Oceana.

A P&O spokesman said last night: “There has been an incidence of a mild gastrointestinal illness among the passengers on Oriana. This illness is suspected to be Norovirus, which is highly contagious and typically transmitted from person to person.

passengers. These comprehensive disinfection protocols have been developed by P&O Cruises in conjunction with U.K. and U.S. public health authorities.

“The safety and comfort of passengers and crew is always our number one priority. As is currently standard procedure across our fleet, all the ship’s passengers were provided with a precautionary health notice advising of Norovirus activity and the health measures to avoid contraction and spread, both on board and whilst ashore.”