Cholera suspected

First cruise passengers start their journey home

After the cholera warning in Mauritius, the first passengers started their journey home.(Bild: glomex)

Following the cholera warning in the port of the East African island of Mauritius, the first passengers have left the ship. They started their journey home, which was originally scheduled for Sunday. However, the cruise ship "Norwegian Dawn" was due to set sail again on Tuesday evening.

"The immigration authorities came on board on Monday evening so that the first people could disembark if they wanted to," said a passenger from Mauritius. However, many people were still on board. According to the police, the more than 2,000 passengers who had planned to start their cruise to South Africa on Sunday could also start their journey on Tuesday evening. The "Norwegian Dawn" would then set sail again, they said.

The ship was scheduled to set sail again on Tuesday evening.(Bild: glomex)

3000 people have been stranded since Sunday
As reported , around 2000 passengers and 1000 crew members had been stranded on board the cruise ship since Sunday due to a suspected cholera outbreak - two miles from the port of Port Louis. After several people fell ill with gastrointestinal infections, the authorities in Mauritius refused to allow the ship to dock in the capital's port.

Food from land trigger
The all-clear was finally given on Monday afternoon (see video above): The suspicion of cholera in the 15 or so people affected had not been confirmed. The authorities now assume that food consumed during a shore leave that did not meet hygiene requirements was the cause.

Passengers criticize the crisis management. "This could have gone better. We were informed too late and inadequately," said a German on Tuesday night. It only became clear that something was wrong when the ship did not dock in La Réunion as planned.