Business Times - 07 Nov 2003 Virus-stricken ship returns to Southampton (SOUTHAMPTON, England) The luxury British cruise ship stricken by a highly contagious stomach virus docked yesterday morning in the southern English port of Southampton, the ship's owners said. Shipping company P&O said the Aurora's 1,800 passengers should finish disembarking at around 0830 GMT after arriving from the disputed British colony of Gibraltar. More than 500 of the ship's 1,800 passengers and 800 crew came down with a virulent strain of gastro-entiritis on the voyage, turning a dream holiday cruise into a medical nightmare. The ship also triggered a diplomatic row between London and Madrid when Spain abruptly closed its border with Gibraltar on Monday after the ship docked in the British territory. Two tourists on the liner died of heart-related causes but the ship's owners said the fatalities were unrelated to the virus. - AFP Copyright C 2003 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.
Dave Shirlaw Editor SeaWaves Magazine www.seawaves.com Tel: 604-924-5401 Fax: 604-924-5403 Cel: 604-454-SHIP (7447)
