Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 was denied entry to Aqaba Jordan and Salalah Oman due to a norovirus outbreak onboard.
Of the 2,403 passengers, Cunard confirmed that just two had confirmed symptoms of gastro illness. A spokesperson for Cunard Line said:
"Despite extensive negotiations with relevant port authorities, Queen Mary 2 has been refused entry into Aqaba today following a minor outbreak of gastro illness onboard."
The line confirmed that travelers who had booked shore trips in the two ports will receive automatic refunds. Passengers will miss out on excursions like a trip to see the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra, Jordan.
RMS Queen Mary 2 is currently on a 120-day world cruise, arriving back in Southampton May 10. The liner will continue her journey through the Suez Canal, calling tomorrow at Limassol, Cyprus one day early, followed by a 2-day stop in Haifa, Israel.