A COUPLE struck by a “vicious” illness which has affected hundreds of cruise passengers are campaigning to find out the cause after another potential outbreak.

Anthony Jones and his wife Julia from Southampton are two of 252 passengers on board the Balmoral to have their holiday ruined by the Norovirus.

The pair say they had their 13-night cruise around the Canary Islands and Madeira wrecked after the illness rendered them unable to leave their cabins on board the Fred. Olsen vessel.

Now, more than a month later, the pair still battle with dizzying sick spells.

Anthony, 76 and Julia, 65 were ten days into their cruise when they started to suffer with diarrhoea, nausea, stomach pains, headaches and lethargy.

The couple set sail on their holiday on April 16 and after getting back from their cruise both had to take time off work and still struggle with nauseating symptoms.

When they came down with the illness, both were examined by medical staff on board the ship and confined to their cabin after diagnosed with the norovirus.

Daily Echo: Anthony and Julia Jones

Anthony said: “We paid a lot of money for this holiday and were left very disappointed after suffering such terrible symptoms.

“We took the holiday to relax, have fun and spend some time together, but we were left confined to our cabin.”

The couple have now instructed lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate.

Their illnesses happened just two weeks before the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed that 252 of the 919 passengers on board the vessel fell ill during a different cruise around America and Canada.

Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have confirmed that they have been contacted by other passengers on board who suffered the same illness after docking on May 20.

The firm is already representing more than a dozen passengers, many of who suffered from illness, following cruises on this vessel between May 2015 and July 2015.

Jennifer Mullins from Irwin Mitchell said: “Clearly a significant number of passengers and crew members have fallen ill and we hope this latest outbreak will lead to action being taken to ensure the ship is free from norovirus ahead of its next voyage.”

Daily Echo: The Balmoral 

A spokeswoman from Fred. Olsen Cruise said: “Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ can confirm there was an outbreak of norovirus on board its 13-night L1607 ‘Canary Islands & Madeira’ cruise, which departed from Southampton on April 3, returning on April 16.

“For guests seeking legal advice on this matter, it is often the case that the guest will face lengthy and costly proceedings, so we do hope they choose to contact us directly instead.

“It is clearly very disappointing that any guests should have their cruise holiday impacted in this unfortunate way. As always, Fred Olsen does all that it can to contain the spread of illness on board its ships, in line with its approved prevention and control plan. All Fred. Olsen guests are made aware of the importance of meticulous hygiene at all times; guests are reminded regularly to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water and to use the sanitising hand gel provided.

“Frequent cleaning of all areas of the ship is also carried out. However, Fred. Olsen relies upon guests making crew on board aware that they are showing symptoms, after which they will be required to remain in their cabin for 24 to 48 hours, until the ship’s Doctor decides that they are no longer symptomatic.”