France locks down 1,700 on cruise ship after 92-year-old dies

French authorities have confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew aboard the Ambition after an elderly passenger died and dozens of people reported stomach-related illnesses during the voyage.

Health officials said a 92-year-old British passenger died from a heart attack, while around 50 people onboard experienced symptoms linked to gastrointestinal illness. Authorities stressed that no connection has been established between the death and the outbreak of stomach issues.

The cruise ship, operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, arrived in Bordeaux on Tuesday carrying 1,233 passengers — mostly from Britain and Ireland — along with 514 crew members.

Officials said initial tests ruled out norovirus, a highly contagious infection that commonly causes vomiting and diarrhoea, although additional testing is still underway. Food poisoning has also not been ruled out.

Authorities further clarified that the situation is unrelated to the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to another cruise ship, the MV Hondius, which has attracted international attention following multiple deaths.

Passengers onboard the Ambition reported increased sanitation measures but said daily activities were continuing normally while they awaited test results from French authorities.

The ship began its journey from the Shetland Islands on May 6 and made stops in Belfast and Liverpool before arriving in Bordeaux. It had been scheduled to continue to Spain before returning to Liverpool later this month.

Cruise operator Ambassador Cruise Line said passengers would only be allowed to disembark once official clearance is granted by French authorities.