A CRUISE ship meant to visit Shetland for the Up Helly Aa festival is reported to have suffered an outbreak of gastroenteritis.
The Balmoral had been due to arrive at Lerwick from Norway on Tuesday for the spectacle but had to abort – apparently due to stormy weather.
The Shetland Times now reports that passengers have confirmed that the ship is also suffering from an outbreak of gastroenteritis, with around 200 people ill.
One passenger told the newspaper that his wife had to isolate herself from other passengers, while there had also apparently been daily announcements saying the ship was “experiencing increasing cases of people presenting with symptoms of gastroenteritis".
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The same ship – which is operated by Fred Olsen Cruises – has suffered previous outbreaks, with around 250 passengers becoming ill in 2024.
The Up Helly Aa festival sees people dressed as Vikings march through the streets of the town to recreate its ancient Viking past, in a tradition dating back to the 19th century.
Shetland and neighbouring Orkney were ruled by the Norse for about 500 years until they became part of Scotland in 1468.
The festival stems from the 1870s when a group of young local men wanted to put new ideas into Shetland’s Christmas celebrations.
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