PASSENGERS struck down by a virus while aboard a luxury cruise ship have returned to Southampton while the vessel is disinfected.

More than 200 people were left sick after contracting the norovirus stomach bug on a cruise around Europe on Sea Princess.

Today as the 2,258 passengers disembarked they told how many had been confined to their quarters, while staff wore masks to avoid contracting the illness themselves.

They spoke of their disappointment at missing out on the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, after the ship's bosses decided to sail past the city in a bid to get the vessel back to Southampton for disinfecting.

Sea Princess returned to Southampton a day early after setting off last Saturday for a seven-day trip to Guernsey, France, Portugal and Spain.

A spokesman for Princess Cruises say only eight people were still sick when the ship docked at the port today.

The company said there had been a smaller outbreak of the same virus, which causes acute gastro-enteritis, on the boat's previous cruise, although they did not think the two were linked.

The Wilson family from Bath were left angered by the situation.

Suzanne, 44, Philip, 50, and children Emily, 15, and James, 12, were all affected by the bug and spent hours vomiting.

Mrs Wilson said she became so ill she did not manage to leave the ship once during the six-day trip, and feels she should be entitled to a full refund.

She added: "Prisoners would have fared better than we did."

A spokesman for Princess Cruises said: "The number of cases increased during the early part of the cruise. However due to our extensive disinfection efforts, the case numbers have dramatically decreased."

The ship is expected to sail again on Saturday