Southampton-Newcastle cruise cancelled after

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A two-night cruise from Southampton to Newcastle, which was priced at less than the rail and air fare, has been cancelled “following on from some reported cases of gastro-related illness on board”. A spokesperson for the cruise line, Fred Olsen, said: “For the safety and comfort of our guests, we will be completing a deep clean upon our arrival into Southampton, which will cause delays to our planned departure time on this short cruise. open image in gallery Deep clean: Balmoral will sail from Southampton to Newcastle with no passengers to allow for cleaning “In addition, sailing with no guests on board will enable this deep clean to be as effective as possible before new guests embark in Newcastle.” Balmoral is due to sail from the Tyneside port on Friday evening, 1 March, on a nine-day Northern Lights cruise to Norway. Passengers whose cruise from Southampton to Newcastle was cancelled have been offered an alternative sailing to Liverpool The Fred Olsen spokesperson said: “All guests who were due to join us on this cruise have been offered the chance to transfer their booking to Bolette’s two-night spring mini cruise in April, or receive a full refund.” This departure from Southampton, on 17 April, is to Liverpool.