France Confines 1,700 Passengers And Crew On Cruise Ship After Elderly Passenger Dies

French authorities have confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew aboard the Bahamas-registered cruise ship Ambition after a 90-year-old passenger died and dozens of people developed stomach-related illnesses while the vessel was docked in Bordeaux.

According to health officials, the ship, operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, arrived in the western French port on Tuesday carrying 1,233 passengers — mostly from Britain and Ireland — alongside 514 Indian crew members.

Authorities disclosed that about 50 people on board had shown symptoms including stomach upset and gastrointestinal discomfort. The worst of the symptoms reportedly occurred on Monday while the ship was docked in Brest.

Officials confirmed that the elderly passenger died before the vessel reached Brest.

French health authorities stressed that there was currently no evidence linking the incident to the ongoing hantavirus scare involving the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where three passengers were earlier reported dead.

Initial medical tests aboard the Ambition reportedly ruled out norovirus — a highly contagious stomach virus commonly associated with vomiting and diarrhoea — although further laboratory investigations are still ongoing.

Authorities also said food poisoning had not been ruled out as a possible cause of the outbreak.

The ship had departed from the Shetland Islands on May 6 and made stops in Belfast and Liverpool before arriving in Bordeaux. It had been scheduled to continue its journey to Spain.

Despite the onboard health concerns, reports indicated there were no heavy security restrictions around the vessel while docked in Bordeaux, with passengers still visible on deck observing the city.

French authorities continue monitoring the situation while awaiting results from additional medical tests.