23 July 2009

Thomson responds to lawsuit threat

Thomson has defended its hygiene standards after threats of legal action by passengers struck down by the norovirus on a cruise in May.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell is representing 17 passengers who were on board the Thomson Spirit liner on a two-week Iberian Delights cruise, which sailed from North Tyneside on May 2.

It says reports from passengers suggest hundreds were struck down by the outbreak (see earlier story).

It has invited Thomson to admit liability and compensate clients, or said it would start legal proceedings.

After consulting its lawyers, Thomson issued the following statement:

"Thomson Cruises can confirm that in May 2009 a number of passengers on the Iberian Delights cruise onboard Thomson Spirit sought medical assistance after reporting stomach upset.

"The symptoms lasted between 12-24 hours, which is consistent with the norovirus, which has since been confirmed by independent medical advisors.

"As with every suspected case of norovirus, every effort was made to contain the illness and the shipÃ¢â¬â¢s crew worked in collaboration with independent hygiene consultants to implement additional precautionary measures. These included extra and more stringent cleaning onboard to minimise the chance of any further illness.

"A letter from the captain confirming the norovirus as the cause of the illness was placed in every cabin to reassure passengers. During the cruise, passengers were asked to remain extra vigilant and those displaying any symptoms of sickness were asked to stay in their cabins. Medical assistance was offered to any passenger that so required on an individual basis and the ships medical staff were joined by additional medical experts as an extra precaution.

"As part of Thomson CruisesÃ¢â¬â¢ commitment to customer services we ensure our vessels operate at industry leading levels of sanitation and hygiene. Our policies and procedures are constantly reviewed and all our ships are subject to a strict hygiene regime and every six months the vessel undergoes a sanitation inspection by the relevant Port Health Authorities Inspectors of the Port.

"Upon arrival in Newcastle, three passengers were offered further assistance, with all other passengers fit to disembark. Further intensive cleaning of the ship was then carried out, and with separate arrival and disembarkation channels, there was no chance of cross contamination between departing and embarking passengers.

"The norovirus affects between 600,000 and one million people in the UK every year, and outbreaks of the illness are common, particularly within contained environments such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools. An outbreak onboard a Cruise ship is therefore not indicative of a failing in hygiene standards."

By Bev Fearis

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Your Comments (6)

compensation culture

We (and many others) have lots of daft compensation claims, and the problem is that the "law" says that we are liable for some of the most ridiculous of claims. What is an accident these days ? An opportunity for someone to claim. The only amusing thing is the standard letters we get from hard working "no win no fee" lawyers who send us a standard letter referring us to the 1992 Package Travel Regulations even when clients have a booked accommodation only, and anyone with a tiny bit of legal sense know they do not apply in these cases. Good fun to answer these. Perhaps Travelmole could start a thread that we could all show our silly claims / legal experiences. It would make great reading.

By Nick Cooper, Monday, July 27, 2009
stay home

this compensation mentality is becoming absurd...just because guests have paid for they holiday to someone they automaticaly assume that everythings happen abroad is not they fault like when tourist walk in the middle of the street thinking that cars only will hit them at home not in they holiday...

By angelo ribeiro, Friday, July 24, 2009
Exactly - What Next?

Well said Max. Confined spaces often cause problems, offices, trains, planes, theatre's, stadiums, restaurants etc etc, oh yes, and ships. Do you sue the passenger who passed on his tummy bug while on a flight, a train, a football match? Let's all just stop living, stay behind our locked doors and never ever go out again!!

By Keith Standen, Thursday, July 23, 2009
Exactly - What Next?

Well Said Max. What's the difference between the confines of a ship a plane, train, office, restaurant, pub, sports stadium, hotel etc, the list is endless. I caught a cold recently after staying in a hotel in Cambridge, did I sue them for allowing a guest to stay while suffering from a cold? It's unfortunate that these passengers suffered this bug but that's life - just get on with it. Money is not going to change the fact that they caught a common bug, it's just greed and they'll be the first to complain when insurance rates go up.

By Keith Standen, Thursday, July 23, 2009
What Next

this compensation culture is killing the industry. It would not suprise me if these people try and sue for their hangover or even sue the mosquito that may have bit them. Everyone knows that Norovirus does not hibernate in vessels, it is transported from human to human. so yes Thomson is right to defend itself. The bottom line is greed, and its on the side of solicitors. I think any action will fail, then what will they sue their solicitor ? where will it all end.

By Max Iglesias, Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thompson smarter than Royal & Cunard

You have to give Thompson Cruises credit for not blaming passengers unlike Royal Caribbean when its Liberty of the Seas had 172 of the ship's 3,846 guests and 10 of its 1,425 crew members experienced the illness, "thought to be a Norovirus brought onboard by a guest..." or when Cunard's Queen Victoria had an outbreak of Novavirus which incapacitated over 80 passengers and, in typical cruise line tradition, Cunard blamed one of its passengers for bringing the bug on board!

By J Hewson, Thursday, July 23, 2009