Camilla’s ‘cursed’ cruise ship is struck by winter sickness bug

A cruise ship launched by the Duchess of Cornwall less than a month ago has been hit by a potentially fatal stomach bug that left almost 80 passengers confined to their cabins.

Three weeks ago, superstitious seafarers speculated that Cunard’s MS Queen Victoria, which cost £300 million, was cursed after the bottle of champagne used by the Duchess at the naming ceremony failed to smash against her bows. Now, at least 78 passengers have been struck down by norovirus, more commonly known as the “winter sickness bug” that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Three thousand passengers, including Sir Jackie Stewart, the former Formula One motor racing champion, paid up to £33,000 to go on the 16-night voyage. The Queen Victoria, on its second cruise, was moored at Lanzarote while 25 passengers suffering the virus were recovering in their cabins and crewmembers disinfected the vessel to prevent further spread of the infection. Voyagers have been given antiseptic lotion for washing their hands and warned not to use the vessel’s public lavatories.
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