As it happens me and 'er indoors should now be on our way to Scandinavia and St Petersburg on Mr Olsen's good ship Boudicca. Having heard rumours, I had enquired about outbreaks of Norovirus on the ship on its previous two cruises. I received an email from a member of the management 5 days before we sailed, saying that everything was OK.
2 days before we sailed we received a "special" letter and an e mail, advising that departure would be delayed due to an outbreak of Norovirus on the incoming cruise, and the need to carry out some sanitising of the terminal building and the ship. The delay was shown as 30 minutes - not much time for a deep clean, me thinks.
After a bit of a tussle with them ending in me having to point out the piece of Legislation that applied, I was allowed to cancel with a full refund.
Since then I have found numerous references to the illness on this vessel and others. Some have been reported as high as 27% of the passengers with the crew unable to cope and even the medical staff being ill and unable to help the situation.
I have never come across Norovirus before on any cruise, and my thought of further cruises will demand much investigation before I book.
ZXZ