Passengers Looking For Help From Fellow Travellers

Fourteen passengers who embarked on cruises on the Arcadia cruise ship in 2015 are set to continue their legal fight after the cruise liner operator, Carnival Plc, denied liability for the illness they suffered while they were on board.

Expert travel illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are representing the passengers, as well as 14 others who suffered illness problems on the same cruise in 2012, and are calling for anyone who embarked on the cruise ship in 2015 to come forward with any information they may have of the conditions on board.

Among those affected are retired couple Alan and Patricia Blears, from Warrington, who were confined to their cabins for 48 hours on a cruise in March 2015 after developing respiratory tract infections.

Another couple, Jill and Peter Dodd, from Spalding in Lincolnshire embarked on the cruise from Southampton in January 2015 and travelled to San Francisco. Just a few days into the cruise Jill suffered with diarrhoea. They both also began to suffer with respiratory issues and were given medication by the ship’s doctor.

The two couples, backed by their legal team, are now appealing to anyone who travelled on the ship in 2015 to come forward with any information they have on the conditions on board the ship, as well as the hygiene standards in place.

Clare Pearson, an expert travel illness lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said:

Expert Opinion

“We now represent holidaymakers who suffered terrible illness problems on board the Arcadia cruise ship in both 2012 and 2015.

“They are all still looking for answers about the ordeal they endured during what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday. We have issued formal court proceedings for those who fell ill in 2012 after Carnival refused to accept responsibility for their claims and we have now been informed by the company that they also deny liability for the issues experienced by those travelling on the ship in 2015.

“We would urge anyone who travelled on the Arcadia cruise ship in 2015 to come forward and provide any information they have on the hygiene standards on board the ship as we continue to help our clients get the answers they are looking for.” Clare Pearson - Legal Executive & Associate

Patricia recalls: “Our trip was ruined by the illness we suffered and it was also not very nice listening to other passengers coughing in the public areas. We both had to visit the doctor on-board and spent long periods of time confined to our cabin.

“It was absolutely horrendous and not what you expect when booking a relaxing cruise. We hope by instructing Irwin Mitchell we will get the answers we want about why we fell so ill and make sure other people don’t go through the same thing we have.”

Jill recalled: “I fell ill with gastric symptoms just a few days into the cruise and then in the second week Peter began coughing up blood and mucus and later I was suffering from similar respiratory symptoms.

“The holiday was completely ruined by the illness we suffered and we couldn’t enjoy it as we had hoped to when we booked it. We have been on cruises before but we’ve never experienced anything like this.

“The holiday was very expensive and we have been left feeling frustrated and angry that we still haven’t got the answers we want.”