Seventy two passengers onboard a cruise ship touring the Highlands and Islands have been struck down by an outbreak of norovirus.

The Balmoral is currently anchored off Portree, Skye – with severe gales preventing it from berthing in the harbour.

The liner departed Invergordon on Monday night with a reported 18 cases of the bug (commonly known as the winter vomiting bug) among its 1,280 passengers and 516 crew.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have confirmed that those affected with the virus have been confined to their cabins.

The source of the bug is thought to have come from a passenger who proved to be unwell shortly after departing from Dover.

A Highland Council spokesman confirmed that environmental health officials had visited the ship when it was in Invergordon.

Some passengers travelled into the town on excursions but these had taken place before any knowledge of the illness on board.

Two months ago there was anger when almost 400 passengers on board the Marco Polo, operated by Transocean, were struck by novovirus.

One man died on board the ship, although his death was associated with other medical problems.

The ship had left Tilbury and arrived in Invergordon, where the bug spread throughout the vessel.

There was anger in the Highland port because excursions had continued despite knowledge of the illness.

And there was further fury among passengers when it was later revealed there had been an outbreak on the cruise ship on a previous voyage, and this information was not passed to port authorities in London.

The ship which is on a nine-night cruise around the British Isles, departed Dover on Saturday September 5, and is due to end its cruise in Dover on September 14.  

After calling in Invergordon heavy seas prevented the ship making its next call at Kirkwall in Orkney.

Instead, the ship travelled on to Portree. It is believed the ship will not berth in Skye as planned, but will instead continue onto Dublin, Falmouth and St Peter Port before returning to Dover.