Passengers Confined To Cruise Cabin Like ‘Prisoners’

A retired Doctor who fell ill on board the Marco Polo cruise liner has spoken of his ordeal for the first time as news of more passengers having their Christmas cruises ruined by illness aboard the same ship hit the headlines last week. 

72-year-old Bryan Robinson was aboard the 425 cabin, Marco Polo cruise ship in July 2009 when he suffered crippling stomach cramps and sickness. He says he was confined to his cabin ‘like a prisoner’ for most of his holiday.

Travel law experts at Irwin Mitchell successfully issued Court proceedings for a number of passengers who suffered aboard the liner in 2009, including Bryan. They are now demanding that the most recently affected cruise goers are fairly recompensed for their destroyed Christmas getaways.

Elizabeth Tetzner, a Travel Law Specialist at Irwin Mitchell which has successfully represented thousands of people who have suffered illness on other ships said: ‘It’s a matter of serious concern that there are fresh reports of passengers and staff becoming ill on the Marco Polo, especially over the Christmas period which is supposed to be a special time.

“But instead of celebrating Christmas, reports suggest people were confined to their cabins where they were treated by medics which must have been an extremely unpleasant and distressing experience.”

Retired doctor Bryan, from Maidenhead, Berkshire, boarded the liner for an eight day trip with his74-year-old wife when just two days into the holiday he was hit with illness.

Commenting on his horrific experience Bryan said: “We went aboard the Marco Polo expecting an enjoyable holiday around the British Isles but instead my experience was hampered as I was so ill that I required treatment from the paramedics aboard the cruise liner to treat me who advised that I stay in the cabin.”

“I am disappointed to now learn that more than two years later more passengers have suffered similar experiences to me.”