At least 89 passengers on board Saga’s Spirit of Discovery have fallen ill with a suspected case of norovirus.

They are reported to be suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea and fevers.

A spokesperson from Saga said: “We have a number of individuals suffering from a gastrointestinal illness on board Spirit of Discovery, following her recent cruise to Italy.

“Due to the possibility that this could be caused by the Winter Vomiting Bug, the second most frequently reported illness after the common cold, the Port of Gibraltar took the decision not to allow passengers to leave the ship.

“As a result, she continued with her journey towards Southampton which was our next port of call during this cruise.

“Our high hygiene standards and practiced procedures mean that the illness has remained contained. The health of our customers is of paramount importance to us and we shall continue to take all appropriate steps to ensure their well-being.”

Spirit of Discovery, which launched in 2019, is due back in Southampton on Wednesday (11 February).

The ship, which has 868 passengers and 513 crew on board, has been cruising around Italy and Spain and was refused entry to Gibraltar on Saturday (8 February).

A Gibraltar government spokesperson told the Mail: “As it neared Gibraltar, the cruise ship, Spirit of Discovery, reported that on board it had 89 cases of suspected norovirus.

“However, given the current situation, the vessel has been asked to continue to its next port of call, Southampton, without berthing at Gibraltar.”

The spokesperson stressed that the symptoms are not those of coronavirus, symptoms of which include fever (high temperature), cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bus, is one of the most common stomach infections in the UK.

It spreads from person to person through close contact, coughing and sneezing and touching the same surfaces or food as someone who has the illness.