A DAWLISH couple are among a growing number of people who have instructed solicitors in a bid for compensation after being affected by norovirus while on a cruise.

More than 500 people were taken ill with norovirus while aboard P&O's Ventura cruise ship, which departed Southampton for the Canary Islands back in May.

Among those affected were Howard and Hazel Lunn, who live in Dawlish.

The couple paid close to £5,000 for a cabin with a balcony, only to fall ill a few days into the trip.

They were then confined to their cabin.

‘You’re sick and you have diarrhoea - you are totally washed out, you have a headache, fatigue - you just don't feel like doing anything’ Howard said.

‘We always have a balcony cabin, so we had access to fresh air, which was a godsend - I cannot imagine what it must have been like for people with inside cabins.

‘I did not participate in any of the meals in the restaurant or the shows - at that point, your holiday is finished’ Howard added.

P&O Cruises said it had protocols in the event of health issues arising aboard its ships.

It claimed at the time that fewer than one per-cent of passengers sailing on the Venture had been taken ill, but a Freedom of Information request later revealed that, in reality, it was upwards of 12 per-cent - roughly 519 people.

‘Having been dedicated cruisers for many years, but now I don't think we will ever cruise again’ Howard said.

‘We simply cannot go through this situation again - you lose your holiday, you’re sick as a dog, so basically you could say that we have totally lost confidence in P&O’ he added.

In a statement P&O Cruises said: ‘We are aware that some guests unfortunately reported gastrointestinal symptoms, reflecting higher rates seen in England this summer. 

‘Gastrointestinal related illnesses are very common in England and Wales and predominantly spread by person-to-person transmission in environments such as hotels, schools and restaurants.

‘We work with global, national and regional public health authorities on proven protocols across our ships in order to protect the health and wellbeing of all on board.’