Operator Confirms Gastrointestinal Illness Cases on Cruise Ship in Bordeaux
The cruise operator, Ambassador Cruise Line, has confirmed to that “a number of guests and crew onboard Ambition have displayed or are displaying symptoms consistent with gastrointestinal illness” during their 14-night voyage along the western coast of France and Spain.
Following the ship’s departure from Liverpool, several individuals reported symptoms of a stomach bug, the operator stated.
Currently, there are 49 active cases of the gastrointestinal illness among passengers and crew, representing just under 3% of the ship’s total population.
The operator emphasized the seriousness of the situation, implementing “enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols” to manage the outbreak.
French health authorities requested a routine review of the ship’s health status and records. Samples were sent to Bordeaux University Hospital for testing, with results requiring at least six hours to process.
The gastrointestinal illness is not believed to be connected to the recent hantavirus outbreak that received significant media attention last week.
Testing is ongoing, and all planned activities for the day were cancelled, with customers receiving full refunds.
“Once clearance is granted, guests will be permitted to disembark,” the operator stated.
Discussions on Russia and Peace Talks at Bucharest Nine Summit
During the Bucharest Nine (B9) summit, leaders addressed the prospects for peace talks with Russia amid ongoing conflict.
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki emphasized that supporting Ukraine remains a “strategic” objective for the B9 group, highlighting the importance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attendance at the meeting.
Nawrocki repeatedly held Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for the war and called for a “long-term, just peace settlement.”
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte stated,
“Putin has to play ball, and at the moment he is not.”
He added,
“He has to be willing to play ball to engage, really, in peace negotiations. I must say the ball is clearly in Putin’s court. He has to play ball. He is not doing that yet. Let’s see what happens. And the Ukrainians, in the meantime, are maintaining the fight, doing well on the frontline, but obviously they did not ask for this, and many people have been killed because of Putin in Ukraine.”
Regarding relations with the United States, Rutte acknowledged some disappointment in the US concerning the reactions of certain allies about Iran and the US and Israeli war efforts.
He stated,
“But I would say that clearly, allies have heard the message … and that is on two fronts: first, … when it comes to living up to all the commitments to basic requests [from the US] … and then when it comes to the strait of Hormuz, the next phase…”
Rutte noted that Italy is sending additional assets to the region to be active when necessary, with other countries, including the UK, taking similar initiatives.
He concluded,
“So my message to the United States is: The Europeans hear the message. They are following up. We are really working together on this.”
Rutte Highlights Russia as NATO’s Most Significant Threat
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the B9 meeting demonstrated the group’s firm anchoring in Nato and the transatlantic relationship.
He warned,
“Russia remains, indeed, the most significant and direct threat to Nato, as it continues its ruthless war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Rutte emphasized,
“We cannot let down our guard. We will always do what is necessary to defend every inch of Nato territory.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara, he stressed the importance of financial resources, urging countries to increase spending. He also noted that discussions will focus on combat-ready capabilities and significantly scaling up defence industries.
Regarding Ukraine, Rutte paid tribute to its ongoing resistance, stating,
“A strong Ukraine today and a strong Ukraine for the future is how Russian aggression can be stopped.”
Poland’s Nawrocki on Defence Spending and Regional Security
Romania’s President Nicusor Dan opened the session by thanking all participants, including the US delegation.
He noted that allies in this part of Europe share “common concerns and a common threat” from Russia and emphasized the need for coordination.
Dan also expressed support for Moldova, highlighting the importance of assisting Chișinău as it faces pressure from Russia.
Poland’s Nawrocki addressed the broader topic of defence spending, stating that the targets adopted in The Hague last year “are not the ceiling, but the minimum needed that is necessary.”
He asserted that Russia “is and will remain the most serious, long-term and direct threat to the security of allied countries.”
Nawrocki warned that Russia aims to “rebuild its spheres of influence, weaken the integrity of Nato … and question the sovereignty and democracy of countries in our region.”
He also criticized certain European leaders—without naming them—who, in his view, “question the alliance between the B9, the EU and the US in a way that is far from any logic.”
Nawrocki cautioned,
“Tearing apart transatlantic relations, breaking up the relations of the European Union and nation states with the United States is in the interest of the Russian Federation. We should all be deeply aware of this.”
Press Briefing Following Bucharest Nine Meeting on Security and NATO
As anticipated, a press conference was scheduled following the B9 meeting in Bucharest, with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte among the speakers.
The summit’s joint statement, signed by leaders of 14 allies from central and eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the Nordics, highlighted concerns over Russia’s repeated airspace violations along NATO’s eastern flank.
reported that Romania, Poland, and the Baltic states have experienced repeated breaches of their airspace by Russian drones, though Russia denies targeting NATO states.
The leaders’ joint statement condemned,
“Russia’s highly confrontational actions against Allies and partners, including sabotage, cyber-attacks, and a wide range of hybrid attacks and destabilising activities.”
Meanwhile, Le Figaro reported that French health authorities confirmed there is no reason to link the gastrointestinal outbreak on the cruise ship departing from Belfast and Liverpool with the hantavirus cases detected on the vessel MV Hondius, consistent with the cruise operator’s earlier statement.
First Images of Cruise Ship Stranded in Bordeaux
Passengers aboard the cruise ship Ambition were seen taking photographs of Bordeaux from the ship’s deck.
An AFP reporter noted that no security measures were in place around the ship while it was docked in Bordeaux on Wednesday.
The Bahamas-registered cruise ship Ambition remains confined at the Bordeaux port following the outbreak of gastrointestinal illness onboard.
