ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has paid out a "five figure" settlement to a group of passengers who got sick onboard its ship Boudicca in 2011.

At a trial in the UK the judge ruled that the passengers had proven that there were failings on board the ship which caused 12 out of 16 holidaymakers to become ill.

Fred Olsen has strenuously denied it was responsible for the gastric problems - believed to be Norovirus - which affected passengers who travelled onboard the cruise ship between March to April 2011.

Many of the passengers were seen by the ship's medical staff and some were confined to their cabins. Passengers expressed concerns about hygiene procedures onboard the ship, which included inadequate cleaning of public areas and their cabins.

In a statement the company said: "Fred Olsen rejects any allegations regarding the level of cleanliness and hygiene on board its ships. At all times, the standards of health, safety and hygiene are of the highest levels across all four ships and they comply fully with the strict requirements and inspections of their Flag State and relevant authorities."

This is not the only gastric illness outbreak on Boudicca - between 2009 and 2013 specialist travel lawyer Irwin Mitchell has represented more than 200 passengers affected by similar illness problems on a number of different cruises.