The cruise ship 'Ambition' arrived at the port of Getxo on Monday morning as scheduled. The vessel carried 1,700 people, including passengers and crew, of whom 17 remain confined after testing positive for norovirus, a highly contagious virus that typically causes vomiting and diarrhea.
The ship began its journey on Sunday at 6:00 PM from the port of Gijón towards Getxo, arriving shortly after 7:30 AM. Similar to its stop in Asturias, health authorities will implement the same protocols to authorize the disembarkation of asymptomatic passengers. In Gijón, the Maritime Captaincy and the Port Authority approved the departure of the cruise passengers after verifying compliance with all requirements.
Health officials boarded the ship to conduct the necessary inspection and assess the onboard health situation, following routine controls and protocols for such stops. After its stop in Bizkaia, the 'Ambition' will continue its voyage to La Rochelle, France, on Monday, concluding its journey in Liverpool next Friday. Once disembarkation is authorized, passengers will undertake excursions to Bilbao or other regional destinations.
Gradually, the ship is returning to normal operations. Last Wednesday, it was reported that all 1,700 individuals on board, passengers and crew, had been confined due to a gastroenteritis outbreak during its stop in Bordeaux. One of these individuals, aged 92, passed away on Monday from cardiac arrest, which authorities stated was unrelated to the norovirus, the suspected cause of the illness.
Owned by the British shipping company Ambassador Cruise Line, the 'Ambition' set sail from the Shetland Islands (Scotland) on May 6th. It had previously called at Belfast, Liverpool, and Brest, where 'digestive symptoms' were reported among some passengers, predominantly elderly British and Irish travelers, earlier in the week.
Norovirus is a highly contagious RNA virus that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal cramps, mild fever, and general malaise. It is typically transmitted through contaminated food or water, or by close contact with an infected person. This infection can cause large outbreaks rapidly, especially in crowded settings. The incubation period is usually between 12 and 48 hours, with symptoms resolving within one to three days. Due to its high contagiousness, hygienic precautions are advised. Experts recommend washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after using the restroom and before eating or drinking.
