Sick passengers may sue cruise line

SOUTHHAMPTON, England, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The British cruise ship Aurora returned to Southampton Thursday, after being stranded 17 days at sea with more than 550 passengers ill with the norovirus.

The London Sun said the $335 million vessel entered controversial waters when Spain closed its border with Gibraltar after the ship docked and other Mediterranean ports refused to allow the ship to dock.

More than 550 of the ship's 1,800 passengers apparently contracted the highly contagious norovirus, causing vomiting and diarrhea, during a trip around the Mediterranean.

Many of the passengers told the Sun they were planning legal action against ship's operator, P&O Cruises.