Food poisoning reports at the Flamingo Oasis Hotel in Benidorm

Food poisoning reports at the Flamingo Oasis Hotel in Benidorm

Recent reports have been received about a possible outbreak of Norovirus and food poisoning at the 4-star Flamingo Oasis Hotel in Benidorm.Holidaymakers have complained of sickness, diarrhoea and vomiting while staying at the hotel in December, 2009 and January, 2010. Four members of one family were violently ill, and on reporting their illness to the hotel reps, were told they ´probably got food poisoning from somewhere outside the hotel´. The family maintain the only place they had eaten was at the all-inclusive hotel restaurant.

Complaints have also been made about the indoor pool which was dirty, and children contracted sores and rashes after swimming there. Holiday reps were also reported to have been taken ill with food poisoning at the Flamingo Oasis Hotel, Benidorm, and several families also confirmed gastroenteritis and vomiting during their stay in January, 2010.

A smell of sewage was also reported by guests when they ran water in their bathrooms or flushed the toilet..

If you have suffered illness, including Norovirus, Salmonella or food poisoning at the Flamingo Oasis Hotel in Benidorm, or at any other holiday hotel, Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors will help you get compensation. We are experts in travel law and we specialise in holiday illness and injury compensation claims in hotels and on board cruise ships. We work on a no win no fee basis so you get 100% of the compensation and it won´t cost you a penny to make a claim with us. For a free assessment of your claim, call the experts on 080001 54321 or fill in the online claim form.

Possible food poisoning outbreak at Club Playa Blanca Lanzarote

We have received reports of a possible salmonella outbreak at the four-star Club Playa Blanca in Lanzarote, it is claimed that people were taken ill after eating there between the 6th and 14th January, 2010.

Several holidaymakers have fallen ill and have been prescribed antibiotics. A local chemist in Lanzarote is believed to have said that a number of people had complained after eating at the Club Playa Blanca.

People who have suffered illness at the Club Playa Blanca also reported sickness amongst other holidaymakers, but could not confirm it was caused by Salmonella.

Thomas Cook has claimed the illness was due to a bug going round the hotel, and that it was nothing to do with Salmonella.Complaints were also made against Playa Blanca in Lanzarote during August and September, 2008.

If you have suffered holiday illness, including food poisoning, gastroenteritis or Salmonella poisoning at the Club Playa Blanca in Lanzarote, or at any other hotel, Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors can get you the compensation you deserve. We specialise in holiday illness and accident compensation claims, and Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors are experts in travel law. We are here to help you and we work on a no win no fee basis so you get 100% of the compensation. Call us for a free assessment of your claim on 080001 54321 or fill in the online claim form.

Outbreaks of serious illness on Cruise ships in 2009

Several outbreaks of serious illness were reported on board cruise ships in 2009. Common cruise ship illnesses included Norovirus, food poisoning and gastroenteritis, and hundreds of passengers went on to claim compensation for ruined holidays and medical expenses.


The following outbreaks of cruise ship illness were reported in 2009:
December 29th: The Boudicca, Fred Olsen Cruises


This cruise onboard the Boudicca was affected by a gastroenteritis type virus which affected 289 people. Fred Olsen tried to reassure passengers that 3-day deep clean of the vessel would take place before the next cruise to the Canary Islands which was due to depart on 6th January, 2010.


December 22nd: The Boudicca, Fred Olsen Cruises


The BBC reported that 50 passengers were taken ill with Norovirus onboard the Boudicca, during a four day mini-cruise from Portsmouth to Zeebrugge and Amsterdam which departed on December 18th.


December 18th: The Boudicca, Fred Olsen Cruises


The Portsmouth News reported that up to 300 passengers were believed to have been struck down by Norovirus and diarrhoea on the Boudicca cruise which left Portsmouth on the 6th December. Bound for Madeira, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lisbon, illness broke out four days into the cruise and 180 passengers and crew became sick.


November 5th: Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International


Several passengers on the Independence of the Seas cruise reported outbreaks of food poisoning on board the cruise ship. One couple were struck down just two days before the end of their holiday, with severe diarrhoea, fever and headaches, and they were later confirmed to have contracted campylobacter, which is a common form of food poisoning.


October 30th: Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Cruise Line


Nine crew members and 73 passengers were taken ill onboard the Norwegian Spirit with gastrointestinal illness during a 16-day cruise which ended on November 8th in New Orleans.


October 22nd: Noordam, Holland America Line


The Noordam sailed into Gibraltar with food poisoning onboard, and a number of tour guides and taxi drivers refused to take the passengers, after word of the gastroenteritis outbreak reached them. Nineteen crew and 159 passengers were reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on the 15 day cruise which ended on November 1st in Fort Lauderdale.


October 18th: Boudicca, Fred Olsen Cruises


According to reports, 16 passengers onboard the Boudicca were confined to their cabins after the ship was hit by an outbreak of Norovirus. A total of 57 passengers were reported ill with gastroenteritis-like symptoms and the ship´s doctor was also confined to his cabin after contracting the contagious bug. The ship was on a 21-night cruise of the Adriatic which departed Portsmouth on October 5th.


September 9th: Balmoral, Fred Olsen Cruises


Approximately 100 passengers were struck down with Norovirus onboard the Balmoral Cruise Ship. The cruise arrived in Dover a day early so it could undergo a deep clean before a 12 day cruise to the Baltic.
July 31st: Voyager of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International
It was reported that 10% of the crew onboard the Voyager of the Seas were struck down with the H1N1 Virus and 70 more crew members showed signs of the disease. Members of the crew and passengers were isolated when they came down with flu like symptoms, and one passenger was found to have swine flu. When the ship docked at Marseille, local authorities initially barred passengers from going ashore, but the majority of passengers were given permission to disembark after a doctor visited the ship.


July 23rd: Thompson Spirit, Thomson Cruises


Hundreds of passengers were struck down with Norovirus onboard the Thompson Spirit, according to newspaper reports. The vomiting bug swept through the ship in early May, and a large number of people were confined to their cabins.
July 6th: Marco Polo, Transocean Cruises


The Daily Mail reported that 380 people (340 passengers and 40 crew members) were taken ill on the Marco Polo Cruise Ship out of a total of 1,079 people onboard. Five people had to be taken to hospital and the cruise had to terminate early because of the illness. A previous outbreak on the same ship took place during a cruise to Iceland, and the ship´s master faced possible legal action as the illness outbreak was not reported.


June 16th: Diamond Princess, Princess Cruises


According to news reports, Norovirus onboard the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship caused several people to be confined to their cabins for fear of spreading the virus.


June 16th: Oriana, P&O Cruises


Passengers reported Norovirus onboard the Oriana after a previous cruise saw 50 confirmed cases. New passengers were not informed of previous outbreak before sailing on June 1st. The outbreak was still reported to be ongoing on June 15th when the ship returned to Southampton.


June 13th: Millennium, Celebrity Cruises


Several passengers reported sickness onboard the Millenium during the cruise from Seward AK to Vancouver BC and Norovirus outbreak. At least 20 passengers contracted the virus according to passenger reports.


May 31st: Oriana, P&O Cruises


Passengers reported a Norovirus outbreak on the Oriana, after the Captain confirmed the illness. Fifty cases of Norovirus were reported.
May 30th: Amsterdam, Holland America Line


The Amsterdam reported that 109 crew members and passengers had reported suffering with gastroenteritis during a 7 day cruise.


May 27th: Coral Princess, Princess Cruises


A gastrointestinal illness struck down passengers and crew onboard the Coral Princess cruise ship. Up to 128 crew members became ill.


May 20th: Sea Princess, Princess Cruises


A newspaper reported a Norovirus outbreak on a cruise ending in Montego Bay. The captain announced the Norovirus outbreak on the day the cruise was due to end, and one couple had to be moved from the ship to a hotel in Montego Bay. Ten more couples were later removed from the ship to stay at the same hotel and Princess Cruises confirmed the Norovirus outbreak.


May 6th: Island Princess, Princess Cruises


A total of 107 crew and passengers were confirmed by the Island Princess to be suffering gastrointestinal illness on the 14 day cruise ending on May 7th.
April 29th: Carnival Liberty, Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Liberty reported 215 passengers and crew were struck down with gastrointestinal illness on a 7 day cruise ending in Miami on April 25th.


April 23rd: Amsterdam, Holland America Line


The Amsterdam reported 160 passengers and crew became ill with gastroenteritis on a 22 day Panama Canal Cruise ending in Vancouver on April 24th. The cause of the illness was Cyclospora cayetanensis.


April 12th: Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International


A passenger reported that over 100 passengers were confined to their cabins onboard the Freedom of the Seas between March 29th and April 5th after an outbreak of Norovirus.


March 24th: Westerdam, Holland America Line


A passenger reported gastroenteritis and food poisoning onboard the Westerdam during a cruise between March 15th and March 22nd, 2009. The captain confirmed there were some cases of sickness among crew and passengers.


March 19th: Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line


Passengers reported an outbreak of Norovirus onboard the QM2 during a world cruise.


March 12th: Mercury, Celebrity Cruises



Gastrointestinal illness was reported on the 16 day circle cruise to Hawaii and San Diego onboard the Mercury, and 119 passengers and crew were struck down.


March 2nd: Azamara Quest, Azamara Cruises



A passenger reported that no other passengers boarded from the Hong Kong to Beijing leg of the cruise as the ship was cleaned top to bottom after an outbreak of Norovirus.


February 27th: Oosterdam, Holland America Line


Gastrointestinal illness struck down 120 passengers and crew during the cruise which ended in San Diego.


February 15th: Zaandam, Holland America Line


A passenger reported that during a cruise on the Zaandam between San Diego and Hawaii, which began on February 5th, several passengers suffered diarrhoea and vomiting, and many were isolated in their rooms. Ninety-five passengers and crew were taken ill and the cruise ended in San Diego on February 20th.


February 11th: Coral Princess, Princess Cruises


Over 270 passengers and crew were taken ill onboard the Coral Princess with gastrointestinal illness during a 10 day Caribbean/Panama cruise.


February 6th: Balmoral, Fred Olsen Cruises


Reports found that 230 people were taken ill onboard the Balmoral, during an 18 day cruse of the Canary Islands and West Africa, when an outbreak of Norovirus occurred. Fifty passengers were confined to their cabins and the vessel was refused entry to the Cape Verde Islands.


January 26th: The Sinfonia, MSC Cruises


Reports showed that 46 passengers became ill with gastroenteritis onboard the Sinfonia, which was sailing between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. The outbreak was reported on January 8th.


January 19th: Tahitian Princess, Princess Cruises


The Captain of the Tahitian Princess announced that there had been an outbreak of Norwalk Virus onboard the cruise ship and that a number of people had been confined to their cabins. It was reported that 86 people were taken ill with the Norwalk Virus.

January 9th: Orchestra, MSC Cruises


Passengers reported an outbreak of an influenza-type illness that affected hundreds of passengers onboard the Orchestra Cruise Ship.

January 9th: Maasdam, Holland America Line


Passengers reported an outbreak of a gastrointestinal virus on the January 2nd-9th sailing, and more than 60 passengers were said to need treatment.


January 9th: Mercury, Celebrity Cruises


Over 150 passengers were struck down with gastrointestinal illness onboard the Mercury during its 14-day Panama Canal Cruise between San Diego and Fort Lauderdale, between January 3rd and 17th.


If you have suffered illness onboard a cruise ship during the past two years, you can claim compensation for your illness, loss of enjoyment of your holiday and medical expenses. Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors are experts in travel law and we specialise in holiday accident and illness compensation claims. We work on a no win no fee basis and you keep 100% of the compensation. Contact us for a free assessment of your claim on 080001 54321 or fill in the online claim form.

The facts about Norovirus and cruise ship illness

Norwalk Virus and Norovirus are often mentioned in the same breath as ´cruise ship illness´, and reports show that more than 2% of all cruise ship passengers become ill with some type of gastroenteritis or ´stomach flu´ during their holiday.

Norovirus symptoms can last between 1 and 4 days, and can totally ruin the holiday. Passengers can become very ill very quickly and symptoms usually include: stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Some people also have a fever and others report muscle aching. There are ways of avoiding the disease.

What is Norovirus?

Norovirus is a group of viruses that cause the ´stomach-flu´ or gastroenteritis, and the virus has nothing to do with the flu virus. Passengers should be aware that a flu injection will not prevent Norovirus, and the symptoms can come on very quickly. Norovirus may be referred to as food poisoning, but it is not always transmitted in food, and likewise, some types of food poisoning have nothing to do with the Norovirus bug. The symptoms come on suddenly, and it is unlikely to have long-term health effects.

Originally named after Norwalk, Ohio, where there was an outbreak of the virus in the 1970´s, Norovirus can affect thousands of cruise ship passengers each year. The disease spreads quickly through confined areas, and passengers often have to be confined to their cabins to prevent the virus spreading.

How do people contract Norovirus?

Norovirus can be contracted by:

• Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with Norovirus


• Touching surfaces or objects that are contaminated with Norovirus, and placing their hand in their mouth


• Having direct contact with a person who is infected and showing symptoms of the disease

Norovirus is very contagious and can spread rapidly throughout cruise ships. The virus has many different strains which make it difficult for a person´s body to develop a long-lasting immunity, and Norovirus can recur in a person´s lifetime. Due to genetic factors, some people are more likely to become infected and develop serious illness than others.

When do symptoms of Norovirus appear?


Symptoms of Norwalk Virus or Norovirus normally begin about 24 to 48 hours after exposure, but they can appear 12 hours after ingestion. People who have contracted either virus are contagious from the minute they start feeling ill until at least three days after recovery. Some people are contagious for up to two weeks after they have recovered from symptoms. If you have recently recovered from Norwalk Virus or Norovirus it is very important to wash your hands often and thoroughly to prevent further spread of the disease.


What is the treatment for Norovirus?


Norovirus is not bacterial and antibiotics are not effective in treating it. Unfortunately there is no anti-viral medication that works against the Norwalk Virus, and there is currently no vaccine to prevent it. If you are vomiting or have diarrhoea, you should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, which can cause serious illness if it is not dealt with.
Can I prevent Norovirus infection?


You can lessen the chance of coming into contact with Norwalk Virus or Norovirus on a cruise ship by:

• Frequently washing your hands, especially after using the toilet, changing nappies and before eating or preparing food.


• Use a strong, beach-based cleanser to thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an illness.


• Remove and wash clothing or bedclothes that may be contaminated with the virus after an illness episode.

• Keep the area surrounding the toilet disinfected and clean and make sure there is no vomit or stool left in the bowl.


You should not let the fear of contracting Norovirus prevent you from booking a cruise ship holiday, but you should be aware of the risks.


If you have suffered Norovirus, gastroenteritis or any other illness onboard a cruise ship, you may be able to claim compensation. Contact Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors who specialise in holiday accident and illness compensation claims, and we will give you a free assessment to see if you can claim compensation for your holiday illness. We work on a no win no fee basis and you get 100% of the compensation. Call us free on 080001 54321 or fill in the online claim form.

Possible food poisoning outbreak at Los Gigantes Hotel Tenerife

Holidaymakers are complaining of sickness , gastroenteritis and possibly food poisoning at the 225-bed Los Gigantes Hotel in Tenerife.

Very high numbers of guests have been suffering from violent diarrhoea, projectile vomiting and severe stomach cramps which have ruined their holiday at the Los Gigantes. All guests have suggested that the illness outbreak at the Los Gigantes was caused by food poisoning at the hotel in Tenerife.

If the illness is proved to have originated at the hotel Los Gigantes, then holidaymakers could be entitled to substantial compensation for loss of enjoyment of their holiday and medical expenses plus other costs.

When large numbers of people are complaining of sickness in the same hotel at the same time, then there is obviously something very wrong. One holidaymaker is reported to have been taken directly from the hotel to hospital by ambulance where he spent four days on an intravenous drip and was fed antibiotics.

Food poisoning can be avoided, including salmonella, if food is cooked properly.
If you have stayed at the Los Gigantes Hotel and suffered illness, including food poisoning and gastroenteritis, you can claim compensation with Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors, who specialise in holiday accident and illness compensation. We are experts in travel law, and if it is proved that food poisoning has transpired at the Los Gigantes Hotel due to negligence and failings in food hygiene practices, you could claim substantial compensation. Call us for free advice and a free assessment of your claim on 080001 54321 or fill in the online claim form.

norovirus on fred olsen cruise ship balmoral canaries december 2009

Have you contacted norovirus on Fred Olsons Balmoral on the christmas cruise to the canaries December 21 2009 to January 5 2010

if you would like information about how to make a no win no fee compensation claim contact Farnworth Rose solicitors experts in holiday illness compensation claims phone 08000 154321 or send us your detials here

Cruise hell onboard the Boudicca

A luxury cruise liner has been hit by three outbreaks of Norovirus in as many weeks. A total of 519 passengers have been taken ill with the virus during three cruises on the Boudicca over winter, despite assurances from the owners who insisted the ship was free from virus.


If you would like information about how to make a no win no fee compensation claim contact Farnworth Rose solicitors experts in holiday illness compensation claims phone 08000 154321 or send us your detials here



Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said the vessel was twice deep-cleaned, following outbreaks of Norovirus, but the virus has returned with a vengeance to plague more passengers, at least twice.

Three people also died during Boudicca´s last cruise, although the company said the deaths were unrelated to the virus.

Derek and Marina Eaton contracted the virus on the last cruise and were confined to their cabins. After being taken ill, having booked the ship´s most expensive suite for the 14 night Christmas cruise to Madeira and the Canaries, at £10,155, Mr Eaton, 70, described it as a ´cruise from hell.´
During the initial 12-day cruise to the Canaries, which departed from Portsmouth on December 6, 180 of the 800 passengers aboard the Boudicca were struck down with illness.

The firm said that when the 28,000-ton ship returned to Portsmouth on December 18, it was deep-cleaned and was free from the virus. Later that day, it departed on a four-day mini-cruise to Amsterdam and around 50 of the 827 passengers were then diagnosed with the stomach bug.
When the Boudicca returned, the company vowed to thoroughly clean the ship before the next cruise, which was the one Mr and Mrs Eaton were on, which departed for Madeira on December 22nd.

This time, 289 of the 795 passengers were diagnosed with Norovirus and gastroenteritis, and the ship - which can carry up to 900 passengers - returned to Portsmouth a day early.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has blamed infected passengers for bringing the virus aboard.
The latest outbreak would be the seventh time in the past year that one of firm's fleet has been hit by the illness.

There was another outbreak on the Boudicca in October.
Mr Eaton, 75, a company owner, from Woburn Sands in Bedfordshire, said he and his wife had been looking forward to spending New Year's Eve in Madeira to see the island's fireworks display, which is said to be the largest in the world.

But after falling ill, they spent the night confined to their cabin and missed the display. They had to spend a total of four days in their cabin and missed three of the six islands on the cruise. Mr Eaton said: 'The management of the company should have cancelled the cruise once the first set of passengers fell ill.

'I don't believe for one second that they deep-cleaned the ship because there wasn't sufficient time.'Noroviruses - a group of viruses - are the most common cause of gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhoea) and affect up to one million in Britain every year. A company spokesman said it would refund passengers a day´s travel as the ship returned a day early and it also offered each passenger £100 for the inconvenience.

But there has not been any compensation paid for days lost due to sickness.
'Throughout every cruise great attention is paid on a daily basis to the hygiene and cleanliness of the vessel,' said a company spokesperson. At the end of each cruise where there were a number of gastro cases, a programme of deep cleaning and disinfection was carried out, with subsequent departures delayed as necessary.'

More than 250 passengers on another Fred Olsen vessel - the Balmoral - have also fallen ill with Norovirus. The ship left Dover for the Canary Islands on December 21 with 1,350 passengers. A spokesman said it would be deep-cleaned in one day. There were also outbreaks of Norovirus on the Balmoral last February when 200 fell ill and in September when 78 caught the virus.

If you have been taken ill onboard the Boudicca, the Balmoral or any other cruise liner, contact Farnworth Rose Personal injury Solicitors who can help you claim compensation. We are experts in travel law and we specialise in holiday illness and injury compensation claims. Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors will deal with your claim swiftly, professionally and confidentially, so call us free today on 080001 54321 or fill in the online claim form.