princess cruises norovirus

Cruise lines battle norovirus outbreaks, affecting crews, hundreds of passengers. Here's what to know

In all, about 1,700 people reported being sick with norovirus aboard a cruise ship between January and June of this year. 

By Monica Galarza and Marissa Bagg • Published July 13, 2023 • Updated on July 13, 2023 at 6:49 pm

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting the highest number of norovirus outbreaks in over a decade and it is impacting hundreds of passengers and crew members onboard some of the most prominent cruise lines.

In the first six months ending in June, cruise lines have reported 13 separate outbreaks to the CDC. It’s the most number of reported norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships since 2012.

And this year’s outbreaks represent the highest number since cruises began sailing again in the summer of 2021 after being suspended due to COVID-19.

Get South Florida local news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters.

One local expert says it’s in part because more people are cruising. 

“The hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people that have already gone on cruises without incident. It’s a very small number and it’s there’s nothing to be concerned about,” said Steward Chiron, a cruise expert. “I would not think twice about going on a cruise. I would not think twice about going on a cruise or traveling anywhere.”

Celebrity, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America, Princess and P&O were among the Royal Caribbean and Carnival lines affected.

Consultant weighs in on sites under consideration for Miami-Dade trash-to-energy plant

Interfaith group urges Miami-Dade State Attorney to curb suspended license arrests

So if you're planning to set sail this summer, here's everything you need to know about the norovirus.

What is norovirus?

According to the CDC, norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States.

It's also not a one-and-done virus. You can get norovirus illness many times in your life because there are many different types of noroviruses and one type may not protect you against the others.

It is possible, however, to develop protection against specific types, but it's not known exactly how long protection lasts.

This may explain why so many people of all ages get infected during norovirus outbreaks.

According to the CDC, your likelihood of getting a norovirus infection is also determined in part by your genes.

How does norovirus spread?

Because people of all ages can get sick with norovirus, it can spread easily and quickly.

The CDC says norovirus can be spread by:

• Having direct contact with someone with norovirus, such as by caring for them, sharing food or eating utensils with them, or eating food handled by them.
• Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus.
• Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then putting your unwashed fingers in your mouth.

You are at your most contagious when you have  symptoms  of norovirus illness, especially vomiting or during the first few days after you feel better.

But studies have shown that you can still spread norovirus for two weeks or more after you feel better.

According to Mayo Clinic , norovirus most often spreads in closed and crowded environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, schools and cruise ships.

But it can also spread through contaminated food, water or through sick people and contaminated surfaces.

What are the symptoms of norovirus?

According to the CDC, the most common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.

You may, however, experience fevers, headaches, and body aches.

Symptoms usually last one to three days and most people recover, according to the Mayo Clinic.

How do you treat norovirus?

There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness.

If you have norovirus illness, the CDC recommends you drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost from vomiting and diarrhea and help prevent dehydration.

Sports drinks and other drinks without caffeine or alcohol can help with mild dehydration, but these drinks may not replace important nutrients and minerals.

It is important to note that antibiotic drugs will not help treat norovirus infections because they fight bacteria, not viruses.

When was the most recent norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship?

The CDC's latest report of a norovirus outbreak happened on Viking Neptune, a cruise ship owned by Switzerland-based Viking Cruises, during a voyage from June 6 to June 20.

According to the CDC, 110 of 838 passengers and nine of the 455 crew members reported feeling ill during the trip.

The following ships saw outbreaks so far in 2023: Celebrity Summit, Nieuw Amsterdam, Grand Princess, Emerald Princess, Enchantment of the Seas, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Constellation, Ruby Princess, Viking Neptune, Jewel of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Arcadia.

What can I do to prevent contracting norovirus?

The key to preventing norovirus , and most other illnesses is simply washing your hands well.

Norovirus is very contagious, but you can take steps to stop it from spreading.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:

• After using the toilet or changing diapers.
• Before eating, preparing, or handling food.
• Before giving yourself or someone else medicine.

It is important to continue washing your hands often even after you feel better.

Chiron says cruise lines try to keep ships clean and limit some interactions. 

“What they do is they reduce the person-to-person interactions. So when you go to the buffet for example for breakfast or lunch. Instead of serving yourself a gloved crew member will do it for you,” said Chiron.

When on board, if you see someone with norovirus symptoms, you’re urged to leave the area and alert a crew member. 

Norovirus can be found in your vomit or feces (poop) even before you start feeling sick. The virus can also stay in your poop for two weeks or more after you feel better and you can still spread norovirus during that time.

Hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. You can use hand sanitizers in addition to hand washing, but hand sanitizer is not a substitute for handwashing.

This article tagged under:

April 23, 2024 63 °F PBS Passport .st0{fill:#0A145A;} .st1{fill:#5680FF;} .st2{fill:#FFFFFF;} UH Search for: Search MENU CLOSE News & Information Features Hello Houston inDepth Topics Local News Statewide News Business Education News Energy & Environment Health & Science Immigration Politics Transportation All Stories >>> Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Main Classical Music Music Opera & Musical Theater Dance Visual Art Literature Theatre & Film Voices and Verses: A Poem-A-Day Series Awareness Hispanic Heritage Pride Month: Better Together! Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Black History Women’s History Education Programs & Podcasts Local Programs Party Politics Houston Matters with Craig Cohen I SEE U with Eddie Robinson Texas Standard UH 100 Years of Houston Bauer Business Focus Briefcase Engines of Our Ingenuity Health Matters UH Moment Features Dead and Buried Career Frontier Podcasts Below the Waterlines: Houston After Hurricane Harvey Party Politics Skyline Sessions Encore Houston All Podcasts >> Support Membership Update Payment Method Upgrade Your Monthly Gift Give a Gift Membership Giving Programs Affinity Council Studio Society In Tempore Legacy Society Innovation Fund Volunteers Foundation Board Young Leaders Council Mission Ambassadors Donations Thank-You Gifts Vehicle Donation Giving Opportunities Employee Match Program More Ways to Give Partnerships Corporate Sponsorship About About Us Meet the Team Join the Team Contact Us Ethics and Standards Reports & Financials Press Room Listen Watch Donate Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Linkedin Mastodon googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1488818411584-0'); }); Health & Science

Cdc investigating outbreak on galveston-based cruise ship after 300-plus become ill.

Nearly 10 percent of the passengers aboard Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess between Feb. 26 and March 5 reported symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. Princess Cruises said the “likely” cause of the gastrointestinal illnesses was norovirus.

More than 300 people reported becoming ill on a Galveston-based cruise ship last week, prompting an ongoing investigation into the outbreak by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Vomiting and diarrhea were the most prominent symptoms among those who fell ill while on board Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess, which left Galveston on Feb. 26 and returned Sunday, March 5, according to the CDC. As of Wednesday, the illness had not been identified by the CDC, which said 284 of the ship's 2,881 passengers and 34 of its 1,159 crew members reported being ill during the voyage.

Briana Latter, a spokesperson for Princess Cruises, wrote in an emailed statement that there were cases of "mild gastrointestinal illness" among those on board the ship. She did not answer a question seeking to determine whether any passengers or crew members were hospitalized after disembarking – a detail that also was not addressed in an online report released by the CDC .

"The cause likely is the common but contagious virus called norovirus," Latter added.

According to the CDC website, norovirus causes vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain and can be spread quickly and easily through person-to-person contact, consuming contaminated food or water and by touching contaminated surfaces and then putting unwashed hands in your mouth. Norovirus outbreaks occur most often between November and April, according to the CDC, which recommends that infected people stay home while they are sick and for two days after their symptoms resolve.

The Ruby Princess was disinfected before another set of passengers and crew members embarked on another cruise shortly after the infected group arrived in Galveston, with the current seven-day trip to the western Caribbean and back set to conclude this Sunday, according to Latter.

The CDC noted that the number of gastrointestinal illnesses reported on the Feb. 26-March 5 cruise reflect the total for the entire trip and did not represent the number of active, symptomatic cases when the ship returned to Galveston. Epidemiologists and environmental health officers from the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program, which tracks viral outbreaks on cruise ships, conducted a field response in Galveston upon the ship's return.

While the Ruby Princess remained at sea, the CDC said Princess Cruises increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, notified all guests about the outbreak and collected stool samples from those who were infected so the samples could be sent to a CDC lab for testing.

Latter said Princess Cruises' sanitization program, developed in coordination with the CDC, includes disinfecting high-touch surfaces like railings, door handles and elevator buttons; encouraging passengers to use their in-cabin restrooms along with washing their hands and using hand sanitizer; and isolating ill passengers in their cabins until they no longer are contagious.

"At the first sign of an increase in the numbers of passengers reporting to the medical center with gastrointestinal illness, we immediately initiated additional enhanced sanitization procedures to interrupt the person-to-person spread of this virus," Latter said.

Resources like these are made possible by the generosity of our community of donors, foundations, and corporate partners. Join others and make your gift to Houston Public Media today! DONATE

Sign up for our daily weekday newsletter - hello, houston sign up now.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Credit card rates
• Balance transfer credit cards
• Business credit cards
• Cash back credit cards
• Rewards credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Checking accounts
• Online checking accounts
• High-yield savings accounts
• Money market accounts
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Car insurance
• Home buying
• Options pit
• Investment ideas
• Research reports
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Cruise lines are battling norovirus outbreaks, affecting hundreds of passengers and crew

Cruise ships have reported the highest number of norovirus outbreaks on their ships in more than 10 years, affecting hundreds of passengers and crew members, with Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corp.’s ships among those most impacted.

Cruise lines have reported 13 separate outbreaks to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention through the six months ending in June, up from two norovirus and two unknown outbreaks in 2022. It’s the most number of reported norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships since 2012, when there were 16.

And this year’s outbreaks represent the highest number since cruises began sailing again in summer 2021 after being suspended for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seven of the outbreaks occurred on cruise lines owned by Miami-based Royal Caribbean Group and five occurred on cruise lines owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp., according to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, which requires cruise lines to report to the agency the number of passengers and crew members who say they have symptoms of gastrointestinal illness during a voyage. Celebrity, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America, Princess and P&O were among the Royal Caribbean and Carnival lines affected.

The other outbreak occurred on a ship owned by Viking Cruises.

Here’s what to know:

What is norovirus? How does it spread? How do you treat it?

▪ Sometimes known as the “stomach flu” or “stomach bug,” noroviruses cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain. However, the virus is not related to the flu, which is caused by influenza.

▪ Most common from November to April, norovirus is the “leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea and food-borne illness in the United States,” according to the CDC. It spreads easily and can make anyone ill. The virus most often spreads in closed and crowded environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, school and cruise ships, according to the Mayo Clinic.

▪ You can get norovirus in a variety of ways, such as by eating or drinking contaminated food and drinks, touching an infected surface and then touching your mouth or having direct contact with someone ill from the virus, according to the CDC.

▪ While there is no specific treatment to treat the illness, the CDC recommends drinking lots of water or other drinks, like sports drinks, that don’t have caffeine or alcohol to help avoid dehydration. Norovirus symptoms usually last one to three days and most people recover, according to the Mayo Clinic.

When did the most recent norovirus outbreak occur on a cruise ship?

The most recent outbreak reported to the CDC occurred on Viking Neptune, a cruise ship owned by Switzerland-based Viking Cruises, during a June 6-June 20 voyage. The CDC says 110 of 838 passengers, or 13.1%, and nine of 455 crew members, or 1.98%, reported feeling ill during the voyage.

Viking Cruises said it increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, collected poop specimens from people ill with the gastrointestinal illness to send to the CDC for pathogenic identification and provided updates twice a day to officials on the number of cases on board the ship until it arrived in New York and was boarded by environmental health officers, according to the CDC’s investigation update.

When were the Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise ship outbreaks?

Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by Royal Caribbean Group, reported norovirus outbreaks on three of its cruise ships so far this year:

Celebrity Summit

▪ Voyage dates: May 15-May 25.

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 152 passengers of 2,144 (7.09%); 25 crew of 963 (2.60%).

Celebrity Equinox

▪ Voyage dates: March 9-March 18.

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 122 passengers of 2,579 (4.7%); 14 crew of 1,222 (1.1%).

Celebrity Constellation

▪ Voyage dates: March 6-March 17.

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 87 passengers of 2,062 (4.2%); 10 crew of 960 (1.04%)

Royal Caribbean International, which is owned by Royal Caribbean Group, reported norovirus outbreaks on four of its voyages, including two separate outbreaks on its Enchantment of the Seas:

READ MORE: What is norovirus and how do you treat it? What to know about the ‘cruise ship virus’

Enchantment of the Seas

▪ Voyage dates: March 23-March 31 and March 11-March 23.

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during March 23-31 voyage: 117 passengers of 2,362 (5.0%); 20 crew of 917 total (2.18%)

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during March 11-23 voyage: 155 passengers of 2,148 (7.22%); 10 crew of 880 (1.14%).

Jewel of the Seas

▪ Voyage dates: Jan. 28-Feb. 3.

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 68 passengers of 2,185 (3.11%); 1 crew of 865 (0.12%)

Brilliance of the Seas

▪ Voyage dates: Jan. 16-Jan. 21.

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 70 passengers of 2,160 (3.24%); 8 crew of 838 (0.95%)

“The health and safety of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement to the Herald Wednesday. “To maintain the highest levels of health onboard our ships, we implement rigorous safety and cleaning procedures, many far exceeding public health guidelines.”

Princess Cruises, which is owned by Carnival Corp. & plc, reported norovirus outbreaks on three of its ships:

Grand Princess

▪ Voyage dates: March 31-April 28

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 99 passengers of 1,727 (5.73%); 32 crew of 1,089 (2.94%)

Emerald Princess

▪ Voyage dates: March 17-April 1.

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 99 passengers of 2,123 (4.66%); 21 crew of 1,192 (1.76%).

Ruby Princess

▪ Voyage dates: Feb. 26-March 5

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 284 passengers of 2,881 (9.9%); 34 crew of 1,159 (2.9%).

Holland America, a subsidiary of Carnival Corp. and plc, reported an outbreak on its Nieuw Amsterdam ship:

Nieuw Amsterdam

▪ Voyage dates: May 6-May 21

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 246 passengers of 1,971 (12.4%); 38 crew of 826 (4.60%)

P&O Cruises, also owned by Carnival and plc, reported an outbreak on its Arcadia ship:

▪ Voyage dates: Jan. 3-April 13

▪ Number of people who reported being ill during voyage: 88 passengers of 1,752 (5.02%); 20 crew of 815 (2.45%).

Carnival did not respond to requests for comment from the Herald Wednesday.

Recommended Stories

Wnba draft winners and losers: as you may have guessed, the fever did pretty well. the liberty perhaps not.

Here are five franchises who stood out, for better or for worse.

Report: Jets trading QB Zach Wilson to Broncos

Wilson's starting over in Denver.

Based on the odds, here's what the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft will be

What would a mock draft look like using just betting odds?

NFL mock draft: With one major trade-up, it's a QB party in the top 5

Our final 2024 mock draft projects four quarterbacks in the first five picks, but the Cardinals at No. 4 might represent the key pivot point of the entire board.

Here’s when people think old age begins — and why experts think it’s starting later

People's definition of "old age" is older than it used to be, new research suggests.

Yankees' Nestor Cortés told by MLB his pump-fake pitch is illegal

Cortés' attempt didn't fool Andrés Giménez, who fouled off the pitch.

Dave McCarty, player on 2004 Red Sox championship team, dies 1 week after team's reunion

The Red Sox were already mourning the loss of Tim Wakefield from that 2004 team.

Ryan Garcia drops Devin Haney 3 times en route to stunning upset

The 25-year-old labeled "mentally fragile" by many delivered the upset for the ages.

Chiefs make Andy Reid NFL's highest-paid coach, sign president Mark Donovan, GM Brett Veach to extensions

Reid's deal reportedly runs through 2029 and makes him the highest-paid coach in the NFL.

Pass or Fail: Broncos release 'Mile High Collection,' first new uniforms in over 25 years

The Broncos may have committed the greatest fashion faux pas there is: being boring.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone ejected after fan mouths off to home plate umpire

You don't see an ejection like this every day.

Oakland University outfielders combine to make spectacular catch vs. Northern Kentucky

Oakland University outfielders John Lauinger and Reggie Bussey combined on what could be college baseball's best catch of the 2024 season against Northern Kentucky.

The new Ford Mustang's V8 is available as a crate engine

Ford offers the new Mustang's updated 5.0-liter Coyote V8 as a crate engine, and it also sells a supercharger kit that unlocks a total of 810 horsepower.

Robert Kraft reportedly warned Falcons owner Arthur Blank not to trust Bill Belichick during head coach interviews

Bill Belichick's former boss Robert Kraft reportedly tanked his chances of getting hired as the Falcons head coach.

Arch Manning dominates in the Texas spring game, and Jaden Rashada enters the transfer portal

Dan Wetzel, Ross Dellenger & SI’s Pat Forde react to the huge performance this weekend by Texas QB Arch Manning, Michigan and Notre Dame's spring games, Jaden Rashada entering the transfer portal, and more

The 10 car brands most expensive to maintain over 10 years

Consumer Reports' ranking of the most- and least-expensive vehicles sounds a concerning alarm bell about a few European brands.

Arch Manning puts on a show in Texas' spring game, throwing for 3 touchdowns

Arch Manning gave Texas football fans an enticing look at the future, throwing for 355 yards and three touchdowns in the Longhorns' Orange-White spring game.

A rare 'devil comet' will reach peak brightness this weekend. Here's how you can see it.

On Sunday, the rare devil comet will reach its closest point to the sun, creating an illuminating sky show. Here is how skygazers can watch it.

Tom Brady will be mercilessly mocked in Netflix's 'Greatest Roast of All Time' comedy special

Get ready for a lot of jokes about Tom Brady never eating strawberries and divorcing one of the most successful supermodels in history.

The world isn’t as messed up as you might think

Americans are in a gloomy mood, but new research points out that a lot of imortant things are going right.

• Updated Terms of Use
• New Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Closed Captioning Policy

Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by  Factset . Powered and implemented by  FactSet Digital Solutions .  Legal Statement .

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. FAQ - New Privacy Policy

Princess Cruises says norovirus is 'likely' source of ship outbreak

The cruise ship is on its next voyage in the western caribbean.

FOX Business Flash top headlines for March 8

Check out what's clicking on FoxBusiness.com

Hundreds of Ruby Princess cruise ship passengers who fell ill on a recent voyage were likely infected with norovirus, according to the cruise ship operator. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has been investigating the outbreak on the Ruby Princess, has not confirmed a cause. 

However, Carnival-owned Princess Cruises, which operates the ship, told FOX Business in a statement "there was a number of cases of mild gastrointestinal illness among passengers" and that "the cause likely is the common but contagious virus called norovirus."

CDC NO LONGER REPORTING COVID-19 CASES ON CRUISE SHIPS TO THE PUBLIC: WHAT TO KNOW

The Ruby Princess cruise ship begins her departure from Port Kembla April 23, 2020, in Wollongong, Australia. (James D. Morgan/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Over 280 passengers and 34 crew members fell ill on the ship. In total, there were 2,881 passengers and 1,159 crew members. 

The ship left Texas Feb. 26 for a voyage to the western Caribbean, according to the CDC. The agency also reported that vomiting and diarrhea were the predominant symptoms. 

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE WARNS UNRULY SPRING BREAK PASSENGERS COULD FACE HEFTY $500 FINE

"At the first sign of an increase in the numbers of passengers reporting to the medical center with gastrointestinal illness, we immediately initiated additional enhanced sanitization procedures to interrupt the person-to-person spread of this virus ," Princess Cruises said in a statement. 

Cruises and vacation experiences continue to see ‘very strong demand’: Naftali Holtz

Royal Caribbean Group Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz discusses the strong consumer demand for cruises and the impact the pandemic had on the industry on ‘Mornings with Maria.’

The cruise line said its sanitation program includes measures such as thorough disinfection of high-touch surfaces, encouraging passengers to use correct hand-washing procedures and isolating ill passengers in cabins until they are non-contagious. 

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

When the ship returned to Texas March 5, it "underwent an additional disinfection" before its next voyage as an added precaution, the company said. 

It is on a seven-day western Caribbean cruise and is slated to return to Texas March 12.

• CruiseMapper
• Cruise news

300+ Norovirus cases on Ruby Princess cruise ship

Hundreds of passengers and crew on Ruby Princess ship fell ill due to a yet-to-be-determined cause, the CDC said.

Illness reportedly affected a total of 284 of the 2881 passengers onboard the cruise, which took place between February 26th-March 5th.

When Ruby Princess returned to homeport Galveston TX , CDC epidemiologists/environmental health officers from the agency's Vessel Sanitation Program boarded the ship to collect stool samples from the sickened passengers and crew.

The CDC has not yet definitively determined what caused the illness outbreak. Princess Cruises believes that the likeliest cause was a Norovirus . According to the CDC, noroviruses are the cause of 90% of diarrheal disease outbreaks on cruise ships and are often referred to as the “cruise ship virus.”

Ruby Princess's Norovirus outbreak comes after several major COVID outbreaks on cruise ships during the first days of the pandemic, including an outbreak on Ruby Princess that forced the boat to dock in Australia back in March 2020. A number of the tourists sickened on that voyage died.

Ruby Princess has already embarked on the next 7-day Caribbean voyage leaving roundtrip from Galveston Texas. Passengers were informed of the illness outbreak on the previous voyage.

For more Ruby Princess incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page .

How common is norovirus on cruise ships? Here’s why you shouldn’t worry

What's sneaky, super contagious and bound to cause diarrhea and vomiting? If you answered "norovirus," you'd be correct. But what is it, and why is it often associated with cruises?

An excessive number of news reports exist for norovirus cases on ships, making it seem to the unsuspecting public that cruise vessels are dirty or you're likely to get sick if you sail . I'm here to set the record straight.

Find out why norovirus is unfairly labeled a cruise ship illness, what cruise lines do to minimize onboard spread and whether you should be worried about it on your next voyage.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

What is cruise ship norovirus?

Norovirus is the most common of several viruses that cause severe gastrointestinal illness or acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms may include diarrhea and vomiting, as well as abdominal cramping, headaches, muscle aches and fever — an unpleasant experience any time but especially when you're on vacation.

Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads when you touch a contaminated surface and then put your fingers in or near your mouth, such as when eating without washing your hands. It's also frequently spread through contaminated food, sometimes earning it the nickname "food poisoning," even though there are many pathogens that can cause foodborne illnesses. You might also hear it generically called a stomach bug or the stomach flu despite the fact that noroviruses are not the same as flu viruses.

How does norovirus spread on cruise ships?

What causes norovirus on cruise ships, anyway? Norovirus spreads easily in close quarters, such as those found on cruise ships. Although it can spread from person-to-person contact, on vessels, it's most commonly passed when passengers fail to wash their hands after coming in contact with high-touch areas, such as handrails, elevator buttons and serving utensils in the onboard buffets.

Infected passengers who don't wash their hands after coughing, sneezing or using the restroom are the reason those surfaces become contaminated in the first place. To avoid both spreading your own germs and picking up the germs of others, wash your hands frequently, especially before eating, for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water, making sure to scrub around your fingernails and between your fingers.

Contaminated food is also a cause, but it's not as common on ships, where the staff is meticulously trained to follow health and safety guidelines for sanitation. Standards are enforced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (See the next section for more.)

What do cruise ships do to prevent norovirus outbreaks on board?

Cruise lines employ crews dedicated to keeping public areas and high-touch surfaces clean. Galley crews and waiters receive extensive training on food safety and handling.

Lines also screen passengers for signs of illness at embarkation. They ask passengers who feel ill during their cruises to report symptoms to the medical center and keep themselves isolated in their cabins.

On ships where outbreaks occur, the crew conducts a deep cleaning of the ship after passengers have disembarked and before the next sailing begins. In cases where outbreaks are particularly severe, subsequent sailings could be canceled to allow for more thorough sanitization.

Additionally, the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program, implemented in the 1970s, subjects all passenger ships carrying 13 or more people to random, unannounced inspections if they wish to call on ports in the United States.

As part of the program, ships are required to adhere to stringent health and safety protocols that dictate everything from the cleaning of high-touch areas to how food is stored in freezers, refrigerators and galleys.

VSP inspectors board ships and conduct thorough checks to ensure compliance, and the standards are high. A score of less than 86 out of 100 is considered failing. You can find a list of the most recent inspection scores and lists of violations for each ship on the VSP website .

Should you worry about getting norovirus on a cruise?

The short answer is no. "People often associate cruise ships with acute gastrointestinal illnesses, such as norovirus, but acute gastrointestinal illness is relatively infrequent on cruise ships," the CDC says on its " Facts About Noroviruses on Cruise Ships " page.

Based on the math, you have less chance of catching a gastrointestinal illness on a ship than at many places you're likely to visit on land.

The CDC estimates only about 1% of all annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships. The numbers are greatest in nursing homes, hospitals, schools and restaurants, which collectively account for about 91% of cases.

In a study of acute gastroenteritis cases from 2006 to 2019 (before the cruise industry's COVID-19 shutdown), the CDC found that the number of cases on ships decreased over those 14 years. It also noted that the number of cases tends to be higher on larger ships and on voyages of a week or longer.

"The rate of … illness on cruise ships decreased during 2006-2019 for passengers and crew," the report says. That's good news for cruisers.

During that time frame, approximately 127 million passengers sailed on the 252 cruise ships under VSP jurisdiction. Of those 127 million cruisers, 26,450 reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness while on board. It sounds like a large number, but it amounts to just 0.02% (two one-hundredths of one percent) of cruisers throughout those 14 years, with the total number of cases decreasing from 4,507 in 2006 to 1,201 in 2019.

If you'd like to check out the outbreak information, you can find a detailed list of ships that have had acute gastroenteritis outbreaks (many of which were caused by norovirus), listed by year, about halfway down the CDC's outbreak page .

For more details on how to keep yourself healthy on board, visit TPG's story on how to avoid getting sick on a cruise .

Why are there so many cruise norovirus reports on the news?

The simple answer is that cruise ships are required to report cases of acute gastroenteritis to the CDC, even when the numbers are low. In contrast, other entities — schools, nursing homes, hospitals and restaurants — are not.

"Health officials track illness on cruise ships. So outbreaks are found and reported more quickly on a cruise ship than on land," reads the CDC's facts page .

Specifically, the medical staff from each cruise ship must submit a report with the number of ill passengers within 24 to 36 hours of its arrival at a U.S. port from a foreign port, even when no cases of gastrointestinal illness are present. They must also submit reports if 2% or more of the passengers and crew become ill and the ship is scheduled to visit a U.S. port within 15 days. If the number hits 3% or more, cases must be reported to the CDC even if the ship is not scheduled to call on a U.S. port within the next 15 days.

That means data for norovirus on cruise ships is more readily available than for other entities. It's easy to make norovirus case numbers sound alarming, but context matters. For example, 100 cases on a single ship might seem like a lot, but on a vessel like Oasis of the Seas, which carries more than 5,400 passengers, 100 cases are only about 2% of the onboard population.

Bottom line

Should you be worried about catching norovirus or another gastrointestinal illness when you cruise? The CDC says cruises account for some of the lowest case numbers in the U.S. annually.

Your chances of finding yourself confined to your room and hunched over a toilet for a week are slim when you sail, especially if you take common-sense precautions like washing your hands and not sharing drinks, utensils and other items that easily spread germs.

Have more cruise questions? TPG has answers:

• Are cruises safe? Here's what you need to know before you sail
• Packing for a cruise? These items aren't allowed on board
• Man overboard: Cruise ship overboards and how they happen
• What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
• What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
• Gentlemen hosts: These men cruise to make sure single ladies have a great time
• What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships?
• What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
• What's a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
• What's the difference between a cruise ship concierge and a butler?

• Cruise News

CDC Reports 14th Cruise Ship Norovirus Outbreak of 2023

Andrea Santillan

• October 16, 2023

A cruise ship norovirus outbreak was reported on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady during its October 8 sailing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The cruise ship reported over 70 cases of norovirus during an October 8 to 13 sailing. The ship’s next batch of passengers were alerted while sanitary measures have been adopted to prevent another outbreak.

While sailing on a Riviera Maya cruise that included stops at Cozumel, Mexico, and Bimini, the Bahamas, 66 out of 2,198 passengers and seven crew members onboard the Scarlet Lady reported symptoms of the norovirus. These included vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. 

Though the virus’s origin remains unknown, news of the outbreak has been shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This move complied with established CDC health protocols to report gastrointestinal outbreaks affecting at least 2% of a cruise ship’s passengers and crew members of 3% of the passengers.

RELATED: Truth and Lies About Norovirus

COO for Virgin Voyages , Michelle Bentubo, assured the public of the company’s timely response, saying, “Our medical team isolated these travelers, and we immediately enacted enhanced sanitization procedures, including additional cleaning of cabins and high-contact areas around the ship. We are working closely with the CDC and their medical professionals.”

According to the cruise line , its next sailing to Grand Turk and Bimini on October 13 proceeded as scheduled. The Vessel Sanitation Program under the CDC will continue monitoring the situation, including the ship’s response to the outbreak and sanitation measures.

Ships make up a “tiny minority” of norovirus cases

Scarlet Lady’s October 8 voyage was the 14th sailing in 2023 to experience an outbreak of norovirus. While that may seem like a lot, an epidemiology professor told USA Today that cruise ships are only accountable for a “tiny minority of norovirus outbreaks.”

To reduce your risk of catching it, the CDC recommends washing your hands often, getting plenty of rest, drinking sufficient water, and leaving areas where people are showing symptoms. In case you get sick, report your illness to the crew. 

Over the summer, a Viking cruise ship had a noro incident with 119 guests and crew, bringing the total to over 13%.

Recent Posts

Carnival cracks down on unsanctioned poolside gambling during cruise, gastro outbreak hits luxury cruise ship, four msc ships will cruise from north america next summer, cruise line adds “glacier day” to its alaskan cruise itineraries, share this post, related posts.

Next Norwegian Ship Will Sail with New Restaurants

Third Disney Cruise Staffer Arrested for Possession of Underage Images

Bringing you 15 years of cruise industry experience. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips.   

Quick links

Cruise Radio, LLC © Copyright 2009-2024 | Website Designed By   Insider Perks, Inc

Princess Cruises' Star Princess ship delayed, 9 sailings canceled

Travelers will have to wait longer than planned to sail on Princess Cruises’ upcoming ship.

The delivery of Star Princess, which was set to debut next summer, will be pushed back by about two months. The cruise line said the delay was a “mutual” decision with shipbuilder Fincantieri.

“Following a comprehensive review of the remaining construction milestones, both parties have elected to adjust the ship's delivery date from July 29, 2025 to September 26, 2025, which will result in the cancellation of the nine inaugural sailings,” Princess said in a news release .

Guests whose cruises are impacted will be able to rebook on any Princess ship and, depending on which sailing they pick, receive future cruise and onboard credits. They will also be able to opt for a full refund of their fare instead.

“Despite our collective dedication and relentless pursuit to deliver the ship in late July, it has become evident that additional time is required to ensure the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by our guests,” Princess Cruises President John Padgett said in the release.

Your cruise was canceled: Now what?

The ship’s new inaugural itineraries will include 11 and seven-day Mediterranean cruises on Oct. 4 and 15, 2025, respectively. Those will be followed by a two-week transatlantic voyage to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Oct. 22, 2025.

Those sailings will be available to book on April 30.

Star Princess will be the second in the line’s Sphere Class. Sister ship Sun Princess was also delayed ahead of its launch earlier this year, with Princess citing “additional technical work” needed at the shipyard.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

I worked on cruises for 3 years. Here are 6 things I'd never do on board.

• I used to work on cruises. After many days at sea, there are things I'd never do on a cruise .
• I never wear my room key around my neck and try to avoid misnaming the ship.
• I never buy the drink package or pay for meal upgrades in the main dining room.

I've sailed around the world as a cruise-ship employee , and now I enjoy cruising as a passenger.

I love the salty sea air, waking up in a new country, and lazy days by the pool, but a week at sea could get more complicated this year with cruises predicted to be in high demand .

While fighting a little harder to secure a prime seat on the pool deck, you may as well also avoid some rookie mistakes.

Here are six things I'd never do on a cruise after working on them for three years.

Pay for upgrades in the main dining room

Typically, main dining room meals are included in the cost of a cruise. But in recent years, it's become common for cruise lines to charge guests extra if they want to upgrade to "supplementary" items like lobster or certain steaks.

I know $12 may not seem like much for a steak or lobster tail at dinner, but the cost of the cruise is supposed to include your food.

So, even though I enjoy lobster, I stick with the items without the upcharges.

Buy the drink package

I enjoy a piña colada by the pool or a Manhattan while listening to a jazz set after dinner. Even so, it doesn't make sense for me to pay in advance for 12 to 15 cocktails a day.

I've done the math on typical unlimited drink packages , and the cost simply isn't worth it for me.

This is especially true with a port-heavy itinerary. If I've gone ashore to explore all day, that means I'm not sidled up to the bar slurping down alcoholic slushies.

Related stories

I prefer to buy as I go and take advantage of happy hour and other drink specials that are available on certain cruise lines. I also check the beverage policy in advance and bring on my own wine, if allowed.

Touch shared contact surfaces with my fingers

Fellow guests will never see me touching the elevator buttons with my fingertips. Knuckles and elbows do the trick.

Some cruise lines are better than others at wiping down commonly touched surfaces, but I don't take any chances. I avoid touching things others frequently touch, and I wash my hands frequently.

This strategy has worked for me, as I have never contracted norovirus, even when it was running rampant on a ship I was on. It's quite contagious and can linger on your fingertips even after using hand sanitizer . I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry.

Wear my room key around my neck

I never walk around the ship with my room key around my neck, and I especially never do this when on land.

There are two reasons for this. First, I see many passengers using the room keys dangling from their necks to flaunt their cruise loyalty status . It just looks pretentious.

The sophisticated cruisers with the highest status, with the most days at sea, never show off their fancy room keys.

That's because they know the more important reason — safety. In port, that room key bouncing off your chest looks like an invitation to be robbed. It screams, "I have money! Come and take it from me."

Misname the ship

English is a funny language that has its quirks. Naming conventions make that even more complicated.

Ships have proper names, and so do not require a definite article. For example, "Tomorrow I am embarking on Discovery Princess," or "I enjoyed scenic cruising on MS Westerdam."

If you want to look like a savvy sailor, learn to drop the "the!"

Plan my port-day itinerary so tight that I may not make it back to the ship on time

Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day.

I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two. Just recently, as a passenger, my taxi driver got lost returning our group to the port at night.

When I realized how late we were going to be, I forked over $8 per minute to be connected with the ship. I pleaded with them to wait for us. It was a sprint through the port to get back on and we received quite a scolding from the first officer.

That time, we got lucky. In the future, I'll be giving myself more time than I think I need to make it back.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

• Main content

Watch CBS News

Norovirus suspected in new Princess Cruises outbreak

By Jessica Firger

April 10, 2014 / 2:44 PM EDT / CBS News

Princess Cruises has reported another outbreak of serious gastrointestinal illness on one of the company's ships, which they say may be an outbreak of the norovirus. In an email statement, Karen Candy, a spokesperson for the company, told CBS News there are currently 94 passengers and 23 crew members on the Crown Princess who have fallen ill.

The company has not yet confirmed the cause of the illness is the highly contagious norovirus, though it is suspected. Candy said Princess Cruises has taken measures to prevent the spread of the stomach bug.

"We have implemented enhanced sanitation procedures onboard Crown Princess to interrupt the person-to-person spread of this illness," Candy told CBS News in an email statement. "Our sanitation program has been developed in coordination with the CDC and includes such measures as thorough disinfection of high-touch surfaces like railings, door handles and elevator buttons; encouraging passengers to use correct hand washing procedures and enhancing this with the use of hand sanitizing gels placed throughout the ship; isolating ill passengers in cabins until non-contagious; encouraging passengers to use their own cabin's bathroom facilities; and providing regular verbal and written communication to passengers about steps they can take to stay well while onboard."

This is not the first time the company has faced a norovirus outbreak. In January, 165 passengers aboard the Caribbean Princess, another ship, were sickened with the virus.

And other cruise lines have also contended with outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness in recent months. In January, nearly 700 passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise fell ill with the norovirus .

Up to 21 million cases of norovirus occur in the U.S. each year, resulting in about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths.

LaPook said there are some measures passengers can be taken to avoid getting sick. He said the CDC recommends people wash their hands frequently with soap and water, rinse fruits and vegetables before eating them, clean surfaces and counters with disinfectant and bleach solution and remove and wash soiled linens.

Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. Like most other viruses, there is no known treatment. Recovery from the norovirus depends on the general health of the individual, and is much more serious when it infects infants, children, elderly and individuals with compromised immune systems. Medical experts typically recommend bed rest and plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration until the virus has run its course.

More from CBS News

Investigation Update on the Emerald Princess

Cruise Line : Princess Cruises

Cruise Ship : Emerald Princess

Voyage Dates : March 17–April 1, 2023

Voyage Number : EP307

Number of passengers who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard : 99 of 2,123 (4.66%)

Number of crew who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard : 21 of 1,192 (1.76%)

Predominant symptoms : vomiting and diarrhea

Causative agents : norovirus

Actions : In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises and the crew aboard the ship reported the following actions:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to the ship’s outbreak prevention and response plan.
• Collecting stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases to send to the CDC lab for pathogenic identification.

VSP is monitoring the situation and the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.

Note : The gastrointestinal illness cases reported are totals for the entire voyage and do not represent the number of active (symptomatic) gastrointestinal cases at any given port of call or at disembarkation.

Learn how passengers can protect themselves with these tips for healthy cruising .

• Inspection Reports
• About Inspections
• Cruise Ship Outbreak Updates
• About Noroviruses on Cruise Ships
• VSP Operations Manual   [PDF – 5 MB]
• VSP Construction Guidelines   [PDF – 4 MB]
• Illness Prevention Information
• Publications

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

This is the announcement bar for Poornima to test the Close Button.  It will expire May 31 2024.

• Pre-Cruise FAQ
• Onboard FAQ
• Post-Cruise FAQ
• Cruisetours FAQ
• Special Offers Sign Up
• Cruise Deals

You have been logged out

Your window will update in 5 secs

Princess Cruises and Fincantieri Announce to Postpone Delivery of Star Princess

By downloading this image you agree to the Princess asset use terms and conditions

MONFALCONE, Italy, (April 19, 2024) – Princess Cruises and ship builder Fincantieri today announced the mutual decision to postpone the delivery of the next Sphere Class ship, Star Princess.

Following a comprehensive review of the remaining construction milestones, both parties have elected to adjust the ship's delivery date from July 29, 2025 to September 26, 2025, which will result in the cancellation of the nine inaugural sailings.

“Despite our collective dedication and relentless pursuit to deliver the ship in late July, it has become evident that additional time is required to ensure the Star Princess is delivered to the highest standards expected by our guests,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.

The new inaugural sailings of Star Princess will sail roundtrip from Barcelona and include an 11-day Mediterranean voyage on October 4, 2025, and a 7-day Mediterranean voyage on October 15, 2025, that precede a 14-day transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale on October 22, 2025 for the ship’s first Caribbean season. These three new cruises will open for sale on April 30, 2024.

Guests who are booked on any of the impacted voyages will be given three options: book any Princess cruise worldwide, including aboard the new Star, sister ship Sun Princess, or any other Princess ship.

Guests who elect to rebook will receive future cruise- and onboard-credits depending on the cruise they select.  Guests will also have the option to cancel and receive a full refund of the cruise fare.

Princess will protect travel agent commissions on all bookings that have been paid in full.

Star Princess is the second in the new Sphere Class of ships for Princess. Sister ship Sun Princess, built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, debuted in February and is hailed as the next level Love Boat featuring the iconic and elegant structural lines Princess is known for, while delivering an evolution of the brand with new eye-catching architectural spectacles like The Dome, the cruise industry’s first geodesic feature on the top deck, and The Sphere, the suspended glass Sphere Piazza at the center of the cruise ship.

More details on both Sphere Class ships can be found at  www.princess.com/sunprincess .

Media Contacts

Contact information for members of the media

Negin Kamali, +1 661-753-1539, [email protected]

Briana Latter, +1 661-753-1538, [email protected]

About Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world’s most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).

Additional media information is available at princess.com/news

Not a member of the media? 

Contact us at: 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or 1-661-753-0000

More contact information is available on our Contact Us page

CDC Reveals Outbreak on Cruise Ship From ‘Unknown’ Illness

Friends Read Free

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than two dozen people on board a cruise ship fell ill due to a gastrointestinal outbreak.

The predominant symptom was diarrhea, the agency reported. Other details were not provided about what may have caused it.

The CDC has previously noted that norovirus can spread quickly on cruise lines, and multiple norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships have been reported over the years to the agency.

Silversea Cruises, which is described as a luxury line, quarantined the impacted passengers and one crew member, according to the CDC. It also “increased cleaning and disinfection procedures,” the agency said.

It also “made announcements to notify onboard passengers and crew of the outbreak, encourage case reporting, and encourage good hand hygiene,” the CDC said. The CDC is now “remotely monitoring the situation, including reviewing the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.”

“To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines,” the spokesperson added. No other details were provided by the firm.

The Silversea incident marks the fourth such outbreak in 2024, according to CDC data.

In a normal year, according to the CDC, norovirus causes between 19 million and 21 million cases of vomiting and diarrhea, 109,000 hospitalizations, and 900 deaths across the United States. The virus also is associated with about 495,000 emergency department visits, mostly in younger children, the CDC says.

If there is a new strain of the virus, the CDC says, there can be upward of 50 percent more norovirus illnesses in a given year.

The CDC’s webpage for norovirus says the virus is very contagious and generally causes vomiting and diarrhea. “Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus. Norovirus is sometimes called the ’stomach flu‘ or ’stomach bug,’” the agency says. “However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu.”

“These outbreaks often get media attention, which is why some people call norovirus the ‘cruise ship virus,’” the CDC says. “However, norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships account for only a small percentage ... of all reported norovirus outbreaks. Norovirus can be especially challenging to control on cruise ships because of the close living quarters, shared dining areas, and rapid turnover of passengers.”

“Currently, norovirus outbreak activity in the United States is within the range we would expect for this time of year and is within the range reported during the same time periods in previous years,” a spokesperson for CDC told NBC’s “Today” show on Thursday.

Federal Agency Issues ‘Public Health Alert’ Over Ground Beef That May Be Contaminated

Day 5 of Trump Trial Concludes Early After Judge Says Alternate Juror Can Visit Dentist

New York Judge Tells Jurors They Must Find Trump Not Guilty If ‘Burden of Proof’ Isn’t Met

Trump Urges Supporters to ‘Peacefully Protest’ as Trial’s Opening Arguments Begin

Royal Caribbean shares huge onboard health and safety news

W hen you go to a hotel or a theme park and get infected with a virus, you don't know exactly what happened. Maybe you caught the virus at the airport, in a rest stop, on an airplane, or even at your hotel or in a restaurant.

That's generally because by the time you get sick, you're no longer at the place where you got infected. Cruise ships, however, lack the same plausible deniability, and historically viruses spread quickly on ships.

Related: Royal Caribbean bets big on new ships, private destinations

On a seven-day cruise, you might actually have picked up an illness at the supermarket or at work, but when you get sick on the ship, people blame the cruise line. When someone falls ill, cruise lines don't actually care where they got infected. They simply want to slow down the spread of the disease.

That has always been the case, but the Covid pandemic and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shutting down the cruise industry from the U.S. for over a year put shipboard illness under a bigger microscope. For months, the federal agency reported on onboard Covid levels and did little to share all of the steps the major cruise lines had taken to mitigate outbreaks.

Now, with Covid becoming less of a concern, Royal Caribbean has shared some big news about its efforts to control another virus, norovirus, which spreads quickly on ships. 

Royal Caribbean has made ships safer

"Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus. Norovirus is sometimes called the 'stomach flu' or 'stomach bug.' However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu, which is caused by influenza virus," according to the CDC.

The virus can cause problems on cruise ships, but it's actually a pretty rare occurrence.

"Norovirus is the most frequent (over 90%) cause of outbreaks of diarrheal disease on cruise ships and these outbreaks often get media attention, which is why some people call norovirus the 'cruise ship virus.' However, norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships account for only a small percentage (1%) of all reported norovirus outbreaks," the federal agency reported.

You are much more likely to get norovirus in a land-based restaurant or healthcare facility than on a cruise ship, but cruise outbreaks make for good stories and get widespread media attention.

Royal Caribbean began its Norovirus Eradication Campaign in 2023. It's a six-step program that has worked to stop outbreaks on its ships, the Royal Caribbean Blog reported.

Royal Caribbean's plan has worked

Royal Caribbean has enacted a comprehensive plan designed to contain norovirus and prevent its spread.

• Enhanced acute GI training for onboard medical teams and traveling doctors
• Increased doctor oversight of its Outbreak Prevention Plan, which covers requirements like hand washing, buffet oversight, and disinfectant mandates for all public areas aboard its ships.

Switching to PDI SaniCloth Prime hospital-grade disinfectant wipes, wipes certified to kill norovirus by the EPA.

New contactless tap technology, eliminating the need for crew to handle guest cards

Enhanced crew training on what to do when experiencing acute GI symptoms and how to avoid cross-contamination in food and beverage service areas

An update to Royal Caribbean's Safety & Quality Management system to stop self-service in buffets if the onboard norovirus rate exceeds 1.5%

"After the eradication campaign was implemented in June 2023, there was not a single norovirus outbreak onboard any Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruise ship for the remainder of 2023," the report shared.

Celebrity Constellation, however, did have an outbreak in January 2024 that was listed on a CDC website, according to Royal Caribbean Blog.