New Delhi, Feb. 23 -- In a suspected case of Norovirus outbreak, 'a large number' of passengers on a British cruise ship reportedly experienced symptoms while crossing Belgium as part of a seven-day cruise across northern Europe.

"People have been dropping like flies, throwing up in restaurants, on decks, outside cabins," Sky News quoted a passenger as saying.

While the current passenger numbers are unclear, P&O Cruises, the operator of the ship, P&O Iona, confirmed some of its guests have "unfortunately reported gastrointestinal symptoms."

P&O Cruises said "fewer than 1 per cent' of the passengers are affected.

A large number of families are understood to be on the cruise, which is taking place during the half-term break in the UK, a...