Hundreds of British tourists held on ship docked in port after outbreak of norovirus

The Ambassador Cruise Line ship, with a majority of the 1,233 passengers from Britain and Ireland, arrived in the western port of Bordeaux earlier today.

The vessel left the Shetland Islands on May 6 before stopping in Belfast, Liverpool and Brest in France before reaching Bordeaux, from where it was scheduled to depart for Spain.

A spokesman for the liner said: "We would like to reassure guests that we take any illnesses onboard our ships extremely seriously.

"Enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols were immediately implemented across the ship in line with established public health procedures following the initial reports of illness.

"The comprehensive health and safety measures introduced onboard include increased cleaning and disinfection measures in public areas, assisted service in selected dining venues and ongoing guidance to guests regarding hand hygiene, including regular hand washing, use of hand sanitisers and the prompt reporting of any symptoms to the onboard medical team.

"As part of the vessel’s scheduled call into Bordeaux, we followed due protocol and advised the French health authorities of the situation."

It comes as the world's eyes remain on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, where three people have died following a hantavirus outbreak.

The outbreak was confirmed after it was detected in a passenger who disembarked in late April and was treated in South Africa.

The hantavirus spreads via contact with rats and mice, but the strain found on the ship can spread from human to human. Health officials are investigating how the virus got on board.

The World Health Organisation said on Monday there were now nine reported cases.

Ten Britons from South Atlantic islands connected to the vessel are set to be brought to the UK.

The group, who are thought to be residents of the UK overseas territories of St Helena and Ascension Island, are being "brought to the UK to complete their self-isolation as a precautionary measure", according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

All those involved are British and are understood to include people who left the cruise ship in St Helena, plus medical staff who have been in contact with them.

The UKHSA said the relocation involves "some contacts who are already isolating, to places where they can safely self-isolate with access to appropriate specialist medical services."