More than 3,000 people on board: The cruise ship is not allowed to dock due to suspected illness

More than 3,000 people on board
The cruise ship is not allowed to dock due to suspected illness

February 25, 2024 at 10:17 pm

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The cruise for 2,000 passengers on the Norwegian Dawn ship was supposed to end today. But the authorities in Mauritius do not allow the ship to dock. They apparently fear an outbreak of a dangerous infectious disease on board the ship.

Nearly 2,200 passengers are stranded on a cruise ship off the island of Mauritius in East Africa. They prevented the ship “Norwegian Dawn” from docking in Port Louis. The Port Authority said this would eliminate health risks. “The health and safety of passengers and the safety of the entire country are of utmost importance to the authorities,” she added. The risks involved remained unclear.

On board the ship “Norwegian Dawn” are approximately 2,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members. About 2,000 passengers are scheduled to disembark in Port Louis, and about 2,300 passengers should board, according to the Port Authority. This is not currently possible, but could happen on Tuesday, according to a spokesman for US-based shipping company Norwegian Cruise Line.

A spokesman for the shipping company said that some passengers on board the Norwegian Dawn ship showed mild symptoms of stomach illness during the voyage to South Africa on February 13. The ship's management is working with the authorities in Mauritius. The company said it took samples from about 15 passengers who were in isolation on the ship. Test results will be available within 48 hours.

Fear of norovirus and cholera

According to unconfirmed media reports, authorities in Mauritius want to rule out that the diarrheal disease is norovirus or cholera. As a result, the neighboring French island of La Reunion had previously prevented the Norwegian Dawn ship from docking.

The shipping company offers hotlines to its guests to clarify questions related to rebooking their repatriation flight. The cruise ship sailed from South Africa on February 13. “We have increased our hygiene procedures on board as part of our routine measures to ensure a safe environment for everyone on board and we will continue to take all necessary measures to protect our guests, crew and the destinations we visit,” the shipping company said.