A couple from Cardiff who were among a number of tourists struck down by a virulent gastric bug on a luxury cruise of the Mediterranean have received compensation from the tour operator.

Mr and Mrs Pole were aboard the Grand Princess cruise liner in spring 2010, having boarded the ship at Southampton.

Sandra Pole, 64, contracted the bug on the last day of the holiday and had to receive medical treatment before she could leave their cabin. Her symptoms persisted for a further 17 days after the couple arrived home. Geoffrey Pole, 69, caught the bug the day after they got home and suffered from the symptoms for three days.

Passengers reported that some of the food on board the ship was cold when it was served and was left uncovered for a long time. Also, some areas of the ship had not been cleaned properly.

There was an information announcement warning of the outbreak of sickness five days before the Poles’ holiday was due to end and efforts were made to introduce hygiene precautions, but other passengers said that there had been cases of the illness before the ship docked at Southampton.

The couple were among 48 passengers who sailed on the Grand Princess between April and August 2010 who brought a claim against the tour operator, Carnival, seeking compensation for gastric illnesses. The company agreed to pay compensation of more than £100,000 in total. Mr and Mrs Pole received £3,100.