Cruise Ships Plagued With Norovirus, Docked To Be Disinfected

Due to the increase of illness that occurred during the previous two Crown Princess cruises, the ship returned two days early to Fort Lauderdale to undergo an extensive two-day sanitization.

In consultation with the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), who has informed Princess that there are widespread outbreaks of Norovirus occurring in the US, it was agreed that this was the best course of action to stop the spread of the illness. The cause has been confirmed to be Norovirus, which is extremely contagious and easily transmitted from person-to-person.

Crown Princess departed February 4 on its scheduled Southern Caribbean cruise after a comprehensive sanitization of all cabins and public areas, which was overseen by the CDC. The seven-day cruise was scheduled to visit Curacao and Aruba, returning on February 11, and Princess regrets that the early return to Fort Lauderdale necessitated cancellation of these calls.

On the February 4 sailing 226 passengers (7.34% out of 3,078) and 63 crew (5.35% of 1,178) reported gastrointestinal illness. On the previous cruise that departed January 28, 364 passengers (11.73% of 3,103) and 30 crew (2.57% of 1,168) were affected.

Norovirus is so widespread that only the common cold is reported more frequently. The CDC estimates that there are 23 million land-based Norovirus cases each year in the U.S., affecting one in 12 people, or 8% of the population. In contrast, the number of cruise passengers affected is .028% of the 8 million cruising population, or 1 in 3,600 of those who vacation aboard ships. Symptoms of Norovirus include mild stomach upset with vomiting and diarrhea, usually lasting between one and three days. The illness generally resolves without treatment or long-term consequences.

The vessel Ruby Princess sailed February 5, from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. It was one of three cruise ships that docked in Florida and Louisiana over the weekend with outbreaks of Norovirus.

Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Sea left New Orleans a couple of hours late Saturday because of the same illness.

Just from the start of this year the cruise industry has already seen six Norovirus-like outbreaks. When these outbreaks occur the entire ship gets cleaned, and additional crews are brought onboard to sanitize all public spaces including carpets, railings, door handles, and each room is sanitized and linens and towels changed throughout the ship and crew quarters.

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