Cruise news: It is the worst record in a decade for cruise ships

There are a number of things people can do to avoid catching an illness during a cruise holiday.

Not touching communal areas such as crockery, doors and handrails can always help.

However frequent sailers may be happy to know that the smaller the cruise, the more likely it is to spread illness.

veteran crew member Chris Mabee explained to Bloomberg: “Those trips tend to be the least-expensive, attracting both older passengers, who are prone to getting sick, and the young booze cruisers, who forget about hygiene.”