A RETIRED couple from Grappenhall, who endured serious health problems during a holiday on a cruise ship earlier this year, have called for answers as they continue to struggle with the on-going symptoms six months on.

Alan and Patricia Blears were both prescribed antibiotics and confined to their cabin for 48 hours after developing respiratory tract infections during their trip on the Arcadia cruise ship in March and April.

Patricia said: “Our trip was ruined by the illness we suffered and it was also not very nice listening to other passengers coughing in the public areas.

"You just never expect to fall ill on holiday and particularly like this.

"We both needed to see the ship’s doctor and had visits from a nurse every few hours so our temperatures could be checked. It was horrendous.

“We’re still struggling now with on-going symptoms and are so frustrated.

"We really feel we deserve to know how this happened and what if anything could be done to prevent these issues from happening again.”

The couple have been in talks with Irwin Mitchell’s specialist illness lawyers, who are representing the devastated family of a man who is suspected to have contracted Legionnaire’s disease during a cruise on the Arcadia ship in 2012.

Anthony Doble, aged 77, suffered with respiratory symptoms such as breathing difficulties and coughing while on board the ship with his wife Annette.

Despite treatment in the ship’s medical centre and being transferred to a hospital in Cape Town, he died a month later.

Anthony’s wife and son, David, are now taking legal action against Carnival PLC.

Clare Pearson, an expert travel lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is leading the case, said: “We have also now been asked by passengers affected by problems on the same ship this year to investigate the cause of the illness they suffered whilst on cruises taken this year.”

A spokesman for Carnival PLC said: "We were saddened to hear of the death of Mr Doble and our sympathy is with his family.  

"P&O Cruises has rigorous procedures for the prevention of Legionella.  Mr Doble stated he had been ill for the two weeks before he boarded the ship.  

There is no evidence that Mr Doble contracted Legionella onboard the ship.  

"The ship's systems were tested at the time by an independent company and no trace of Legionella could be found. "