Liner 'like hospital prison ship'

Up to 120 passengers have taken a train for their journey home

A passenger has described confinement on a cruise liner hit by an outbreak of vomiting bug as like being on a "prison hospital ship".

Derek Cloke said people were waiting to fall sick onboard 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.

But, others 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.

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.

Some sourced details on what was happening from BBC News, the BBC Scotland news website and Sky TV.

The ship's staff and medical staff have been absolutely marvellous Phyllis Hamilton Passenger

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.

"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 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."

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.

"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.

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.

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.

NHS Highland said 400 people have been assessed after becoming unwell, and the health board is awaiting results of tests to confirm whether the outbreak is the winter vomiting bug norovirus.

Seven people have been taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

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