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Thomson Cruises facing holiday illness claims from 100 holidaymakers (11 May 2015)

Date: 11/05/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Thomson Cruises facing holiday illness claims from 100 holidaymakers

Thomson Cruises is facing legal action from more than 100 holidaymakers who allege they fell ill with symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea on board the cruise liner MS Island Escape.

The Daily Mail reports that the cruise liner – which specialises in all-inclusive Mediterranean cruises to Rome, Majorca and Barcelona – is accused of serving “lukewarm” and “undercooked” food to passengers during cruises in 2013.

Passengers also say that fresh food was “piled” on top of old food at the buffet – and that plates and cutlery were frequently dirty and communal toilets were not cleaned regularly.

Some passengers claim they were so ill with symptoms of fever, dehydration, diarrhoea and vomiting that they were confined to their cabins for days on cruises between March and November 2013.

Holidaymakers who fell ill include a honeymoon couple, a couple celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary – and a man celebrating his sixtieth birthday with his wife, who also fell ill.

Maureen Brotherton, 57 from Droylsden in Manchester was celebrating on board MS Island Escape with her husband Frederick for his sixtieth birthday and fell ill three days into the cruise. Mrs Brotherton says she still suffers symptoms of the illness which developed on board the cruise liner.

Another passenger, George Gowans, 63, said he and his 60-year-old wife Norah fell ill with food poisoning symptoms near the end of their two-week cruise in May 2013 – and were not well enough to leave their cabin.

Mr Gowans – from West Calder, West Lothian in Scotland – had paid £2,500 for the couple’s Thomson cruise holiday. He told MailOnline Travel:

“There were loads and loads of people ill. We were ill for two days prior to leaving the ship and my wife was severely ill on the flight home.

“It was about two weeks after that before we were able to go back to work and lead a normal life.”

Mr Gowans said that he and his wife were diagnosed with Norovirus – and Thomson offered them £100 to put towards another cruise holiday with the tour operator.

Colin and Lynsey Young from Livingston in West Lothian were on honeymoon when they both fell ill on board MS Island Escape.

Mrs Young said the medical staff on board the cruise liner gave them injections and rehydration medication to help with the severe symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea – but it took medics nine hours to get round to treating her husband.

“Colin fell ill before I did,” said Mrs Young.

“He started to suffer with diarrhoea and vomiting – and he spent the rest of the week feeling very lethargic and suffered with dehydration.

“As I tried to care for my husband, I also suffered from severe vomiting and diarrhoea. At one point, I was trying to get to the bathroom as I felt sick, but I had to vomit in a bin as I couldn’t make it in time.

“I was experiencing agonising abdominal pain along with hot and cold sweats.”

She added that as a result of holiday illness, their honeymoon had been “a disaster”.

A spokesperson for Thomson said:

“We are sorry to hear of these customers’ experience on board the Island Escape in 2013.

“The ultimate priority for Island Cruises is the health, safety and comfort of all our customers. We operate stringent health and hygiene procedures in line with industry standards.

“Island Cruises took over 35,000 passengers on holiday in 2013 – and the vast majority had no complaints about their cruise.

“As this case is now subject to legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”


Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Lawyers – No win no fee Holiday Illness and Accident Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of no win no fee personal injury lawyers able to advise holidaymakers who have fallen ill on package holidays and cruises on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims relating to:

• Amoebic dysentery
• Campylobacter
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Cryptosporidium
• E.coli
• Gardiosis
• Listeria
• Salmonella
• Shigella.

Holiday illness and accident claims have to be made within three years of illness or diagnosis of illness – children can claim compensation up to the age of 21.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Holiday Illness and Accident Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

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