More than 100 P&O cruise passengers have submitted claims for compensation after being hit with an alleged norovirus outbreak at sea.
Lawyers representing the holidaymakers who travelled on P&O’s Ventura for a two-week cruise around the Canary Islands in April and June said there had been “repeated outbreaks”.
More than 500 passengers developed norovirus symptoms in May after the ship departed Southampton in May - with the ship almost full with just under 3,000 passengers on board, the BBC reported.
P&O cruises has apologised and said it would be responding to the legal claims.
The claimants allege that P&O parent company downplayed the number of ill passengers despite the Southampton port health authority saying, at the height of the outbreak, more than 12 per cent of passengers were ill.
Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
Hudgell Solicitors said it had been enlisted by 115 holidaymakers to seek compensation for "illness, loss of enjoyment and losses".
Among those claiming compensation are Howard and Hazel Lunn, from Devon, who became ill just days into their £5,000 cruise.
Mr Lunn claimed to the broadcaster that P&O had been "hiding the figures" when it came to how many people on board were ill.
"They also deliberately wouldn't specify to us that it was norovirus - they used a phrase like 'gastro-intestinal problems'," he added.
A P&O Cruises spokesperson said: "We are aware that some guests unfortunately reported gastrointestinal symptoms, reflecting higher rates seen in England this summer.
"Gastrointestinal related illnesses are very common in England and Wales and predominantly spread by person-to-person transmission in environments such as hotels, schools and restaurants.
"We work with global, national and regional public health authorities on proven protocols across our ships in order to protect the health and wellbeing of all on board".
