5 Common Illnesses You Can Get on a Cruise Ship

Table Of Content

• Seasickness on cruise ships
• What preventative measures should I take to avoid coming down with Norovirus?
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• Am I entitled to compensation from the cruise line if I get Norovirus while on a voyage?
• Scientists Identify Rare Gene Variants That Can Increase Your Risk of Obesity by up to 500%
• Will travel insurance cover me in case I want to cancel because of fear of illness?

In the following table, you can see all 2019-reported Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. The listed statistical data is based on CDC or news media reports. It shows the number of sick passengers and crew (with the respective percentage to all), along with the corresponding CDC report pages (if available) as outgoing links. For the agency to report a cruise-ship outbreak, 3% or more of passengers or crew members must report symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, such as vomiting and diarrhea, to the ship's medical staff.

Seasickness on cruise ships

It's not about the passengers' health (never been) - it's about the big money that rules our world. Typically, the infection is treated with antibiotics, Chen says, but the CDC recently issued a warning that antibiotic-resistant strains are circulating in the U.S. Chen isn’t aware of any outbreaks of the resistant varieties on cruise ships, but it’s something to monitor. Close living quarters, shared bathrooms, populated pools, busy buffet lines and rapid turnover of passengers make it difficult to control the spread of the virus once it hits a ship. “It’s just really the perfect scenario for transmission of highly contagious GI [gastrointestinal] pathogens,” Lucar says.

What preventative measures should I take to avoid coming down with Norovirus?

It has to be with soap and water, because alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against norovirus. The number of outbreaks in the first six months of 2023 is higher than the yearly total during every year since 2012, when there were 16 outbreaks on cruise ships reported to the CDC. ▪ Norovirus is the “leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea and food-borne illness in the United States,” with more than 2,500 norovirus outbreaks reported every year, according to the CDC. Buffet service often switches from "help yourself" to manned stations. Norovirus has been a particular problem of late for cruise ships because passengers and crew typically occupy close -- and closed-in -- quarters, such as casinos, theaters and banquet-style dining rooms.

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During the onboard illness outbreak, VSP requires the cruise company to activate the "Outbreak Prevention and Response Plan" (vessel's response to illness cases). VSP doesn't charge fees for consultations related to shipping facilities renovations or new ships. It's important to wash your hands with soap and clean water frequently, but especially after using the bathroom or changing diapers, before eating and before touching your face.

For example, the bacterium might be in water vapor emitted by an air conditioning system, meaning that everyone on the cruise ship is potentially exposed. There is a second type of Legionnaires’ disease called Pontiac fever, which causes influenza-like symptoms. In serious cases where outbreaks cannot be contained, cruise lines might actually pull a ship out of service for a few days so it can undergo a more thorough sanitization. Norovirus is named after an outbreak that occurred in Norwalk, Ohio, in the late 1960s.

Scientists Identify Rare Gene Variants That Can Increase Your Risk of Obesity by up to 500%

Several cruise companies, including Disney Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line, are cracking down on vaccine requirements. Be sure to read your contract -- on the back of your cruise documents or ticket -- very carefully. For extra peace of mind, you can also research your cruise line prior to booking. Ferry's train deck was reconstructed and converted into a hospital.

Some of the world's most famous passenger ships are listed in the virus outbreak statistics, yet one hears so little of it in mass media news. And there is no surprise in that since the "cruise illness" news are nothing but bad publicity for the companies - which is bad for a prosperous multi-billion dollar sea travel vacation business. All major cruise line companies will do their best to keep quiet about virus outbreaks on their ships. There are passenger testimonials about quarantined ships and how badly guests have been treated by the line. Virus outbreak news speaks of a lack of proper hygiene control, badly trained staff, bad ship management. The whole responsibility goes to the shipowner (cruise line company) and its management.

This can happen incredibly quickly due to the confined nature of a cruise ship and the frequency of close interactions among passengers and crew. That said, the chances of catching the bug on a cruise ship aren’t particularly high. According to the Cruise Lines Industry Association, the risk each year of getting laboratory-confirmed norovirus during a ship outbreak is about 1 in 5,500. Over half of all cases originate in long-term health care facilities, according to the CDC, while less than 1 percent of all norovirus cases come from cruise ships. The bug thrives in crowded conditions and is spread through food and by touching contaminated surfaces. The easiest way to avoid the ailment is to wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, before eating and after touching surfaces touched by others.

2024 Is Already Shaping Up to Be the Year of Cruise Ship Norovirus Cases - Matador Network

2024 Is Already Shaping Up to Be the Year of Cruise Ship Norovirus Cases.

Posted: Wed, 13 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Follow me on Twitter (@bruce_y_lee) but don’t ask me if I know martial arts. For example, should someone tell you, “I am having some explosive diarrhea, but should still be able to dance with you,” tell them that “explosive diarrhea” is not something that you want to dance around. "We can try to do cruises as safely as possible, but we are going to have breakthrough cases," says Ostrosky.

The following statistics show the number of cruise ship illness outbreaks in recent years. You can compare the number of reports (CDC and news media sources) and the total number of infected (passengers and crew). You can get norovirus from an infected person, from contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed (acute gastroenteritis). This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up. Norovirus cases aboard cruise ships were on a steady decline between 2006 and 2019, according to CDC data.

CDC Investigating Illness Outbreak on Luxury Cruise Ship - U.S. News & World Report

CDC Investigating Illness Outbreak on Luxury Cruise Ship.

Posted: Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Cruise lines have had to invest heavily in cleaning and sanitation protocols, disease detection methods, and passenger education to combat the threat of norovirus. In many instances, outbreaks have led to public relations challenges, decreased passenger satisfaction, and financial losses due to trip cancellations and medical costs. Cruise ships are known for their vast buffets and dining options. This presents an opportunity for the virus to spread if food or water becomes contaminated, either by an infected person or through improper handling and storage.

That’s how many people have been infected with the norovirus while aboard cruise ships this year, according to CDC data. The outbreaks happened on Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and P&O Cruises. Norovirus cases aboard cruise ships have spiked for the first time in over 10 years, and experts believe more lenient travel restrictions and an increase in cruise passengers following the Covid pandemic are to blame. Shipboard medical service fees vary and are usually set by medical practitioners. In most cruise ship hospitals, some supplies and medications are provided to passengers and crew for free - like aspirin, seasickness pills, small bandages.

Mathis says it might even make sense for passengers to avoid the buffet and dine only at their ship’s sit-down restaurants. She noted that hand sanitizers do not work well against norovirus and that they are not a substitute for handwashing. According to Shah, norovirus spreads rapidly anywhere there are large groups of people, like school classrooms, family gatherings, and weddings. Norovirus infects between 19 million and 21 million Americans annually, the CDC reports. The most recent occurred in June on a Viking Cruises ship from Iceland that docked in New York, where 110 passengers and eight crew members fell ill. They are located on upper decks and include cabins for families, couples and single cabins.

There are more than 21 million US cases reported annually, of which 1 mill related to kids. Outbreaks happen mostly during winter months and mainly in more crowded places with close quarters. Among those are schools, hospitals, nursing homes, dormitories, prisons, big resorts, bigger passenger ships (including cruise ferries). Norovirus is often branded as "cruise ship virus" simply because on ships health officials are required to report every gastrointestinal illness incident.

Hospital ships are designated as floating medical facilities (hospitals). Numerous studies confirm that a quick application of hand sanitizer doesn't kill the Norovirus. It takes about 30 sec of hard rubbing with hot water and soap (including under the nails) to wash it. As to its efficiency - a mere 20 particles are enough to get you. Norovirus can also get into food before, during or after preparation, and it's the top germ causing foodborne illness in the U.S., per the CDC.

"The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority," Silversea told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The CDC regularly inspects cruise ships and monitors the number of outbreaks. This year, norovirus also has been reported on cruises operated by Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America and P&O Cruises. The worst year for norovirus was 2006, when 32 ships reported infections, according to the CDC.