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Huge luxury liner labelled a ‘floating disaster’

Passengers aboard a luxury cruise liner that docked in Sydney on Monday have labelled the vessel a “floating disaster” plagued by a nasty stomach bug.

There are reports at least 60 of the 1500 people on board the P&O’s Pacific Eden were struck down with gastro as the ship travelled from Sydney to Cairns and back over Christmas.

P&O told AAP it had been able to successfully contain the virus on the Pacific Eden.

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Guest Cherie Butcherine said the ship was “worse than a one-star hotel”, complaining of mould, leaks, flooding and a critical shortage of toilet paper.

“There was food all over the floor, the bathroom was absolutely disgusting, it was covered in mould,” Ms Butcherine told Fairfax Media.

“We were just devastated to have to stay on board.”

A norovirus outbreak on the ship’s previous voyage delayed its latest departure by at least three hours while it was fully sanitised.

The same virus then rocked the Pacific Eden for the second time in its short sea life.

Ms Butcherine said her 11-year-old daughter was hit with the virus and claimed the crew were reluctant to take responsibility.

“The whole thing was just a nightmare,” she said.

“I can’t tell you how upset we are about the whole thing, and I just couldn’t wait to get off the boat.”

Public relations consultant Jaimie Abbott was also on board and branded the Pacific Eden a “floating disaster ship” in a Facebook post at the weekend.

In a statement, P&O said it followed the same proactive and stringent approach to containing the virus as is followed globally.

“It only takes a small number of cases of the common stomach bug, norovirus, for sanitation levels to be increased on board,” the statement said.

“Stomach bugs are a fact of life in the general community and as you will see on board the level of cleaning and sanitation is second to none.”

The cruise line is carrying out increased cleaning of the ship and terminal during the turnaround in Sydney on Monday.

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