The Black Prince carries out weekly and fortnightly cruises

The liner the Black Prince, which has been sailing from Leith since 2002, is due back in Scotland on Saturday.

Up to 116 cases of the Norovirus have been confirmed on the Fred Olsen liner.

It left Leith on 3 June, bound for a seven-night cruise of the Norwegian fjords, with 210 crew and 412 passengers on board.

In a statement the cruise line company said the passengers who have been diagnosed with the bug have been confined to their cabins.

The company routinely carries out extensive cleansing and disinfecting programmes Fred Olsen statement

The company said: "Fred Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm that there have been a number of cases of a Noro-type virus on its ship Black Prince during the current cruise.

"The company routinely carries out extensive cleansing and disinfecting programmes every day and immediately the first cases were reported it put into place an even more rigorous hygiene regime.

"The next cruise is due to depart from Leith on 10 June and the sailing time has been delayed to mid-evening to allow for extensive treatment of the ship."

The company said outbreaks of the virus were "extremely common".

"It is highly contagious and is spread by person-to-person contact, and from fixtures such as furniture or handrails if recently touched by an infected person."

We asked if you had been affected by the virus? Were you on board the Black Prince? Had you experienced similar problems?

We are going on Black Prince from Edinburgh in two weeks and John Glover can buy us a drink. We were on this cruise to Norway on Black Prince last year and all hygiene standards were very high. We were on the Van Gogh last year as well and saw that it was smitten with the bug last month. Their cleanliness was equally good. All your correspondents are right. It just needs one person with a virus to come on board. We will carry on cruising.
Gus Robertson, Edinburgh

I've been on several P&O cruises and their ships were spotless and a lot more hygiene aware than many land-based hotels and resorts. These bugs are caught anywhere and everywhere - but on board it's obvious how many people are suffering from them. No-one knows how many holiday makers in resorts and hotels might have had a virus...it's an ever-changing population arriving and departing to hundreds of different locations...you can pick up far worse at the local supermarket!
Nina Klein, Guildford

I'm sad to say that I have witnessed people working in restaurants, cafes, food shops and other public kitchens who have all supposedly undergone health and hygiene training touch door handles, touch their face and money then go straight to touching the food you are about to eat without washing their hands. Regardless of how many people use antibacterial hand washes, it only takes one lazy person to not bother and touch a door handle or the serving spoon which is left in the food on the buffet for germs to spread.
Sarah, Chester

My wife and I have recently returned from a two week cruise in the Mediterranean with another cruise line. Before leaving Manchester we had to sign a declaration to say we had not had this illness in the last 48 hours. However it still got on the ship. Before boarding the ship and every time we re-embarked or went into a dining room or restaurant we had to use hand gel. All self service was stopped, including tea and coffee and all was served by crew wearing gloves. Serving utensils were changed often during any servings. Some people complained of inconvenience, but we were all able to finish the cruise and the next one left on time. Well done Ocean village for promptness and vigilance. Before we disembarked the restrictions were able to be lifted. Highest praise for the crew.
Paul James, Liverpool

I have had this virus and can confirm it is not pleasant and as a result have every sympathy with the affected passengers. However, what I do not condone is the constant call for compensation from cruise passengers who fall ill with virus type illnesses. Anyone who goes on holiday has the potential to be ill but unless you can claim any costs incurred through insurance, you do not expect compensation/refunds from the holiday company. It is not the holiday company's fault you are ill - I suspect it is not the cruise line's fault passengers are ill. More than likely a passenger has taken the virus on board - why then should the cruise line compensate?
Sarah Cooke, Bradford

Having been on a cruise ship, I notice that the serving utensils on buffet style meals are touched by everyone. These serving utensils sometimes fall into the food. I cannot understand why a new system has not been put in place throughout the food industry.
Susan Shaw, Cheshire

There was an almost identical report on the Australian news this morning of a cruise ship returning to Sydney for exactly the same reason. This follows on from a different cruise ship returning to Perth, again due to a norovirus outbreak, earlier this year. Nice relaxing cruise? No thanks, I'll stick with driving or flying somewhere for a holiday if you don't mind.
Graeme, Australia

We have cruised with Fred Olsen on a number of occasions and found the hygiene on board to be to a very high standard. Before embarking, before eating in any restaurant onboard and after going ashore all passengers are made to use the hand gel. No company can safeguard against a passenger boarding with a bug or the personal hygiene of individuals while onboard. It is shame that it is always bad news that hits the headlines and that some of the other medical emergencies on board do not make the news. I know of lives that have been saved on Fred Olsen ships thanks to the swift actions of the onboard medical staff and crew.
Julie Collis, Ipswich

Having had some experience with this virus, I do feel I should point out that it is people that spread it - not ships. This virus is the second most common virus next to the common cold. It exists the world over and affects closed communities (such as ships, schools, colleges, hospitals, etc.) when someone joins it who is suffering from it. Despite the most stringent of hygiene measures, most closed communities are powerless to prevent its introduction - only to restrict it from affecting other people when it arises. Melissa Hall is quite right - Olsen's hygiene is exemplary and just one person on this ship (and others we have heard of recently) have spread the illness. Fortunately, though unpleasant, the illness usually clears up within 48 hours and only the extremely elderly or infirm are seriously, if temporarily, affected and they can be helped, as the others, by medical attention.
Brian MacDonald, Essex

My girlfriend and I have travelled on the Black Prince on two previous occasions and are due to sail on it again in two weeks' time. We've always found it to be clean and have not experienced any problems. It's just one of those unfortunate episodes that could affect any ship.
John Glover, Edinburgh

As a former Fred Olsen employee I too am sad to hear of this. The bug is particularly virulent, and I hope that normality returns before too long.
Fachie Maclennan, Isle of Harris

I have travelled on the Fred Olsen Black Prince on two occasions, the most recent being over Easter. The guests' hand disinfection was always in place both getting on ship and going into restaurants. I was therefore impressed with the hygiene measures. However there doesn't seem to be a medical screening of passengers who board cruise ships i.e. how do the company know if you are suffering from a stomach bug which could be contagious when boarding?
Philip Partridge, Manchester

My husband and I have been on a few cruises with Fred Olsen and I am sad to see that they have been affected by this bug. Their cruise ships are spotless and the hygiene routine is extensive with cleaning and guest hand washing continuing throughout the day. I can only assume that a passenger boarded the ship with the bug and i feel sad that one person's decision can ruin the reputation of a very good company. Melissa Hall
Melissa Hall, East Sussex