A COUPLE from Yate are taking legal action against a sea cruise company after their Mediterranean holiday was ruined by severe illness.

Rachael and David Wilcox were on the Rhapsody of the Seas, a ship operated by Royal Caribbean, at the start of August for a 10-day cruise to celebrate her mother’s birthday, when they were both suddenly hit with sickness, lethargy and diarrhoea.

At one point, Mr Wilcox, 50, was so ill he was quarantined for two days in their cabin and sought medical attention on-board the ship, for which he was given an injection and medication. 

Mrs Wilcox, 46, an accounts clerk, said: “It broke my heart to see my husband so ill, he really wanted to see Montenegro and Croatia but he missed out on these ports of call due to his illness.

“These holidays are precious opportunities to spend quality time together and make lasting memories, however we just look back on this cruise with regret and disappointment.”

The couple said they were aware of others unwell at the same time on the ship containing 2,000 passengers and 700 crew, with Mrs Wilcox describing the conditions as feeling “dirty”, adding that “there appeared to be fewer cleaners than she has seen on other cruise ships she has travelled on”.

She said: “I’ve been on 12 different cruises and usually there are cleaners all over the ship, but I just didn’t seem to see many this time around and the ship felt really dirty with grease and grime on the buttons in the lift, for example.

“After David fell ill staff dropped food off at our room and we had to put the used cutlery and plates in a pink bag in the morning – it was really worrying as I saw a lot of these pink bags coming out of cabins across the ship.

“It’s not how you expect to spend a cruise that you paid so much money for.

“We were both very much looking forward to this cruise and desperately needed a break – we never thought we would fall ill and neither of us is back to 100 per cent yet.”

A spokesman for Royal Caribbean said: “We are yet to hear from Mr and Mrs Wilcox’s lawyers and will do a full investigation as soon as we do.”