Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is reported by Sky News as saying 84 of its 763 passengers on board the ship Boudicca were affected.

The ship left Belfast on September 23 on a 10-night Scandinavian cities cruise.

The vessel is due to undergo a sanitation and cleaning programme before it sails again later today.

It is the second sickness outbreak to hit a Fred Olsen cruise in weeks, after around 130 people contracted a gastroenteritis-type illness on Black Watch last month as it sailed from Fife to Scandinavia and St Petersburg.

Boudicca is scheduled to leave on a 12-night a cruise to Madeira and the Canary Islands.

The cruise line said in a statement to Sky News: “It is extremely unfortunate that a number of guests on board this Scandinavian cruise have experienced this illness.

“In such instances, every precaution is taken on board to ensure the swift containment of the illness, and a number of public areas, including all public toilets and the self-service buffet, are closed.

“Frequent cleaning of all areas of the ship is carried out, and any guest showing symptoms of the virus is asked to remain in their cabin, with complimentary room service and in-cabin entertainment, until they are considered to be symptom-free by the ship’s doctor, before being able to join the rest of the ship.

“Fred Olsen would emphasise that, as with all its sailings from regional UK departure ports, it works closely with the relevant Local Health Authorities and Port Health Authorities to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of all its guests and crew, which are the company’s utmost priority.

“All of Fred Olsen’s cruise ships meet, at all times, the highest safety, hygiene and health standards.”

The line added that people booked on Boudicca’s next cruise had been informed of the situation.