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Passengers sick again, cruise line cancels sailing
Last weekend nearly 700 passengers, on three different ships, contracted the flu-like Norovirus causing Princess and Royal Caribbean cruise lines to delay departure of this week's sailing for extensive cleaning. Now, another outbreak on one of the same ships has caused its cancellation, mid-sailing, and an early return to port for even more cleaning.Princess Cruises Crown Princess was on a seven-night Caribbean cruise when the outbreak occurred and will skip calling at the ports of Curacao and Aruba to come back two days early.
"In consultation with the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), who has informed us that there are widespread outbreaks of Norovirus occurring in the US, it was agreed that the best course of action to stop the spread of the illness is for the ship to undergo a two-day extensive sanitization," said Princess Cruises in a statement on their website.
To make that happen, Crown Princess, scheduled to return to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, February 11 will come back two days early, ending the current sailing on Thursday, February 9th.
Passengers on the current sailing will receive a full refund, assistance re-booking flights if they had been booked through the cruise line as well as hotel accommodations if necessary and 25% of what they paid as a credit to use on a future cruise.
"On the current sailing 114 passengers (3.70% out of 3,078) and 59 crew (5.01% of 1,178) have reported gastrointestinal illness," said Princess. On the previous cruise, 364 passengers (11.73% of 3,103) and 30 crew (2.57% of 1,168) were affected.
The move by Princess is unusual but not unprecedented. Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, is a common illness that is easily transmitted in closed environments like nursing homes, schools and cruise ships.
Photo: Princess Cruises
The move by Princess is unusual but not unprecedented. Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, is a common illness that is easily transmitted in closed environments like nursing homes, schools and cruise ships.
Photo: Princess Cruises
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
jIM Fielder Feb 7th 2012 8:18PM
probably that swill coffee they serve--they need to get that coffee from NORWEGIAN
Susan Feb 7th 2012 8:26PM
So, to blame the cruise lines for this would be ludicrous.
We cruise three times a year, and there's a form you fill out uponembarkation stating you're not sick - not coughing, not sneezing, no diarrhea and no nausea. I've seen people complete these forms, hacking up a lung or two while in the check-in line.
The problem is HUMANITY. Humans are unwilling and unable to take control for their own actions.
Ann Feb 8th 2012 3:13PM
I do not condone it -- I hate it when someone is sick and coughing or sneezing next to me because I have always had a compromised immune system. When I get a cold I end up with a sinus infection for weeks or even months. *However* I find it hard to blame people nowadays because they risk losing their jobs if they stay home ... or they don't get paid if they stay home from work ... or in the case of something like a cruise, the cruise line won't give them a refund and they are probably with friends and/or family ... what are they supposed to do? Forfeit hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars? If the cruise lines want this to stop happening they need to make it easier for sick people to reschedule their cruises!
Susan Feb 7th 2012 8:24PM
NCL's coffee is ok - if you make them let it STEEP before they press it. They're so used to making brown water for the average American they can't get used to making ACTUAL coffee.
BTDT Feb 7th 2012 8:45PM
It takes a certain kind of fool to go on a cruise.
An RVer Feb 7th 2012 8:50PM
You wouldn't get me on a cruise even if they paid me to go....who in their right mind would go on one knowing you could be very sick....also cruising is for people who just want to eat, eat and more eating!! If you want to go see an island fly there!! I personally wouldn't do that either. The USA is a beautiful country...get yourself an RV and feel safe sleeping in your own bed at night.....not wondering if their are bedbugs and also cooking your own meals so you know how it has been prepared. To each their own but I'll stay in the USA ....it is beautiful!!
Robert Feb 7th 2012 9:05PM
If you've never been on a cruise how do you claim to know what everyone does on them? I've been on 7 cruises...and they are hands down the best vacation you can have. Eating is a small part of the cruising experience....I hope to go on many many more.
Chris Feb 7th 2012 9:25PM
yea that's a great vacation driving around in an rv and cooking your own meals. I sure as hell don't consider that a vacation - might as well pitch a tent in your yard.
Ted L Feb 7th 2012 11:07PM
I have been on 5 cruises in the last years. I lost 3-6 pounds each cruise. Your "facts" are completely baseless. Try again.
liguy Feb 7th 2012 11:14PM
The only time I got sick on a vacation was when I flew to the Dominican Republic and got food poisoning eating at the resort's restaurant. I have been on 6 cruises, and they are hands down the best vacations. Do everything or do nothing, your choice, unpack once, none of this hurry up and see everything like being on a tour. One piece of advice, go with the upper end cruise lines like NCL and Princess, avoid Carnival which is cruising for the masses with lots of kids. Yes, the USA has lots to see, one of the cruises I took was to Alaska on Princess, seven day cruise followed by 5 day land tour. It was wonderful.
GIGI Feb 8th 2012 12:01AM
I Agree Stay in the USA, Cook your own meals and sleep in your own bed! America is Beautiful too!
A G L Feb 8th 2012 1:14PM
What a foolish comment. I've been on 8 cruises. Loved them all. Been to Bermuda, the carribian, Alaska. Not everyones cup of tea but what is. To simply put people who like to cruise down is ignorant. By The Way. I like nascar too. And I'm not from the south. Does that make me a ya hoo.
CruisingForABruising Feb 7th 2012 9:03PM
We went on a cruise last year and will never go on one again. Smelly, obnoxious tourists spending the whole time on buffet lines. People using their bare hands to take food. It was like a floating Super 8 motel. I question someones intelligence who would regularly cruise.
helen Feb 7th 2012 10:01PM
Well, you get what you pay for. I have been on 15 cruises and have never seen people handling the food with their hands. Cruises are a wonderful way to relax while being transported to different ports.
Gina Feb 8th 2012 9:28AM
Sounds like you went on Carnival. I've been on Carnival twice, Royal Caribbean twice (leaving next wk for my 3rd on RC, woohoo!!), and Celebrity once. As one friend referred to it, Carnival is the poor man's cruise. Celebrity is the best hands down, but RC had the itinerary and timeframe I needed this time around. RC was also good in my prior cruises. I tend to look at the shore excursions for ideas of what I'd like to do at each port, but don't book them through the cruise line. I prefer to hire locals on the islands to take me on tours. They're more appreciative, and you're not jammed into a tour bus w/many other tourists.
IMO, cruises are the best vacation possible, allowing you to see many destinations in a short period of time. Having your 'hotel', entertainment, and dining all included makes it more reasonable and convenient than other vacations. The Baltic Sea cruise on Celebrity was the coup de grace of my cruise trips.
viperbl Feb 7th 2012 9:06PM
I don't get Norovirus - too much stomach acid
GreatBawlmerGuy Feb 7th 2012 9:17PM
Isn't it interesting that you only hear about these outbreaks during the winter time when people spend more time inside and there are more cases of colds, flu, etc throughout the entire USA (and probably the world). I don't blame the cruise lines and I don't necessarily blame the passengers, it's just that time of year.
By the way - I've been on 5 summer time cruises and have never heard of or been afflicted with any types of viruses, etc.
Percheron1 Feb 8th 2012 12:02AM
What causes a norovirus infection? How are norovirus infections transmitted?
Infection occurs when humans inadvertently ingest material contaminated with small amounts of fluids or feces from an infected person. It only takes a small number of viruses to cause infection, so even microscopic amounts of feces or fluids can be contagious.
An infected person with vomiting or diarrhea can contaminate their environment directly or spread virus particles through aerosolized droplets when throwing up. Contamination may also occur in food and/or in water, which has led to infection spreading widely in restaurants or aboard cruise ships. Outbreaks in school systems occur regularly, sometimes spreading widely as was the case with an outbreak in the Chicago public schools in 2010. The virus is very hardy and can live for days or weeks on surfaces
tigrr Feb 7th 2012 9:47PM
They should do the same shut-downs and sterilization for hospitals.... more people die from infections gained in hospitals than what they had originally went in for. Shut them down for a week on a rotating basis at least once a year.
Jill Feb 7th 2012 10:01PM
If anyone thinks they're going to "get a deal" on a penny auction.....please reconsider....your odds are better in VEGAS! I detest people like you Kelly who prey on people who need a helping hand, not a liar full of crap! Shame on YOU!