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Nearly 100 holidaymakers are taking legal action against Thomson Cruises over claims that they fell violently ill during Mediterranean voyages last year.

Several passengers claim they were so ill that they were confined to their cabins for days while sailing on board the MS Island Escape at various times between March and November 2013.

A pair of honeymooners, a couple celebrating their 10th anniversary and a man celebrating his 60th birthday are among those who said they suffered symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and dehydration.

Nearly 100 holidaymakers claim they fell ill on board Thomson Cruises' MS Island Escape

Passengers who suffered gastric illness symptoms claim they were served lukewarm and undercooked food, and there were occasions where fresh food was piled on top of old food at the buffet.

They also claim cutlery and plates were often dirty and communal toilets weren't cleaned regularly on board the all-inclusive cruise ship.

George Gowans, 63, said he and his 60-year-old wife, Norah, fell ill near the end of their two-week, £2,500 cruise in May 2013 and were not well enough to leave their cabin.

George, from West Calder, West Lothian in Scotland, told MailOnline Travel: ' There were loads and loads of people ill. We were ill for two days prior to leaving the ship and my wife was severely ill on the flight home [from Palma de Mallorca].

'It was about two weeks after that before we were able to go back to work and lead a normal life.'

George and Norah Gowans fell ill during a two-week Mediterranean cruise with Thomson in May 2013

George, who is semi-retired, said the couple was diagnosed with norovirus, and were offered a £100 voucher from Thomson for another cruise.

He said: 'They were not prepared [for the illness], they didn't acknowledge the fact that anything had happened and all they wanted to do was shut you up.'

Newlywed couple Colin and Lynsey Young, from Livingston, West Lothian, said their honeymoon was ruined when both fell ill.

Lynsey, 26, said: ' Colin fell ill before I did. He started to suffer with diarrhoea and vomiting and he spent the rest of the week feeling very lethargic and suffered with dehydration.

'As I tried to care for my husband, I also suffered from severe vomiting and diarrhoea. At one point, I was trying to get to the bathroom as I felt sick but I had to vomit in a bin as I couldn't make it in time.

'I was experiencing agonising abdominal pain along with hot and cold sweats.'

She said the cruise ship's medical team gave them injections and hydration sachets, and claimed that it took nine hours for a staff member to attend to her husband.

Honeymooners and a man celebrating his 60th birthday were among those who said they fell ill

Lynsey said: ' This was meant to be a relaxing and luxurious break for us to start our married life and spend some quality time together as a couple.

'But instead our honeymoon was a disaster as we were largely confined to our cabin after the start of our illnesses which meant that we missed two ports, Naples and Rome, which we really wanted to visit.'

Londoner Melissa Barnes, 53, said she and her 59-year-old husband, Rod, fell ill about two or three days into their trip.

She told MailOnline Travel: 'It affected us badly as we were unable to leave the ship in the ports we visited as we couldn't be away from a toilet.

'We had a week's stay in Alcudia after the seven nights on board and we were still ill then so it ruined our stay.'

Maureen Brotherton, from Droylsden in Manchester, was celebrating her husband Frederick's 60th birthday when she fell ill three days into her cruise.

The 57-year-old said she continues to suffer ongoing symptoms. 

She added: 'Frederick was so worried about my deteriorating condition that he telephoned the ship's doctor who came out to see me and prescribed some antibiotics and gave me an injection to try and help with the symptoms. We just wanted to go home and put the nightmare behind us.

'Since we arrived back home, I have continued to experience problems with my bowels and I've lost a lot of weight because of this.'

Passenger George Gowans said he and his wife, Norah, were not well enough to leave their cabin

A spokesperson for Thomson said: 'We are sorry to hear of these customers' experience on board the Island Escape in 2013.

'The ultimate priority for Island Cruises is the health, safety and comfort of all our customers. We operate stringent health and hygiene procedures in line with industry standards.

'Island Cruises took over 35,000 passengers on holiday in 2013 and the vast majority had no complaints about their cruise.

'As this case is now subject to legal proceedings it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.'

Irwin Mitchell said it is the fourth time in six years it has pursued complaints about MS Island Escape, which offers Mediterranean cruises to destinations such as Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona and Rome.

Thomson said a 'vast majority' of passengers who boarded the ship in 2013 'had no complaints' 

The law firm said it has represented more than 300 passengers who were on board the vessel in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Amandeep Dhillon, a partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: ' The large number of people who have instructed us to investigate their complaints about this cruise ship is very worrying.

'Some of these passengers suffered from severe gastric illness symptoms whilst on board the cruise ship when they should have been relaxing and enjoying themselves.

'Any reports of illness on board cruise ships or at holiday resorts across the world are a concern, but of particular concern that is that this is the fourth year in the last six that we have been asked by passengers to help them following episodes of illness on board this particular liner.

'Guidelines are in place for cruise ship operators to follow and we are working to determine what the Defendant has done to investigate and resolve any underlying issues following the problems experienced in recent years.'