Experts Already Acting In Relation To Fatal Wave Incident On Same Voyage

Legal experts representing passengers injured during a voyage on the Marco Polo cruise ship in February have confirmed they have now also been contacted for help by holidaymakers who suffered illness during the same trip.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Travel Law team were contacted earlier this month by some of the passengers injured when a large wave struck the ship, operated by Cruise and Maritime Voyages, as it was travelling back to the Essex port of Tilbury on February 14th. An 85-year-old man died from injuries sustained in the incident.

Now, the expert lawyers have also been contacted by passengers struck by illness during the same 42-night trip and has heard first-hand concerns regarding suspected norovirus on board the vessel.

Expert Opinion

While we have already commenced our own enquiries into the incident on the Marco Polo which led to the death of a man and left many others injured, we are now concerned to have heard of suspected illness problems on the ship.

"Like hotel and resort operators, clear hygiene procedures are available for cruise ship operators and we will be turning our attentions to developing a fuller picture around the illness issues we have been informed about and whether anything further could have been done to protect passengers.

"The consequences of cruise illness problems cannot be underestimated and, having successfully represented victims of outbreaks on cruise ships and in holiday resorts across the world, we have seen how such issues can have a long-term health impact on victims.

"As with any case of this nature, it is vital that lessons are learned which will ensure that – where possible – safety standards improve in the future." Suki Chhokar - Partner

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist Travel Law team has previously secured justice for passengers affected by problems on a cruise on board the Marco Polo in 2009, as well as on a trip between December 2011 and January 2012.