Tag Archives: Cruise

‘Floating sick bay’ Australia cruise ship rocked by Norovirus claims

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Passengers aboard P&O’s newly-launched cruise liner say it is anything but a Pacific Eden, with a gastrointestinal outbreak affecting at least 60 passengers ahead of its return to Sydney on Monday.

norovirus-2The ship Pacific Eden, which docked in Sydney on Monday morning, has been accused of being a “floating disaster” and some passengers are seeking a refund.

Several passengers have contacted the Herald, claiming a norovirus gastrointestinal outbreak has affected a large number of passengers.

But a spokeswoman for P&O, which owns the ship, disputes the allegations. She said only 11 out of 1500 passengers aboard are ill, including five who were in isolation on Saturday. That number had reduced to two by Sunday.

This is about the same rate as the general population at any time, she said.

The departure of the 55,820 tonne cruise ship from Sydney on December 16 was delayed three to four hours to allow the crew to sanitise the ship after an outbreak of gastro on the previous trip. Yet the spokeswoman said she understood the previous cruise had a similar number of people who were sick with norovirus.

Yvonne Hubscher of the Sunshine Coast said she had seen children running along a deck singing, “We’re all living on a spew ship.”

She said the captain had mentioned that there had been 247 cases of norovirus on the previous trip. Many others had been sick on this trip.

Other passengers also contacted the Herald with similar allegations, including Cherie Butcherine from Dundas Valley.

vomit cruiseThe number affected by the outbreak is far higher than the 11 reported ill by a P&O spokeswoman on Sunday. It was the second outbreak of the Pacific Eden’s short life – she joined the fleet on November 25 after being purchased and refurbished by P&O.

But disease was only one of the young cruise liner’s problems. Guests who spoke to Fairfax Media also complained of mouldy bathrooms, a dearth of toilet paper, flooding, leaks and poor customer service.

“It was worse than a one-star motel, basically,” said Cherie Butcherine, who was travelling with her husband, mother and daughter Alexa. “We were just devastated to have to stay on board.

“There was food all over the floor, the bathroom was absolutely disgusting, it was covered in mould.”

 

182 sick: Barf cruise ship docked in Sydney

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The Explorer of the Seas arrived at around 6am on Wednesday with Royal Caribbean confirming 182 cases of a gastrointestinal illness among guests and crew of the 14-night trip.

mr.creosote.monty.python.vomit“Those affected by the short-lived illness have responded well to over-the-counter medication administered onboard the ship,” the statement issued on Wednesday said.

Paramedics were on stand-by as the 3,566 passengers and 1,139 crew members disembarked the Royal Caribbean Explorer, but no patients needed to be transported, am Ambulance NSW spokesman told AAP.

The ship and terminal will undergo enhanced cleaning and sanitisation to prevent any illness affecting future cruises as the ship prepares to depart for its next voyage on Wednesday evening.

With more than three per cent of the ship’s passengers struck down with the stomach bug, it is a legal obligation that health authorities be alerted.

The outbreak started on December 5 and peaked on December 11 and 12, but has since been decreasing, NSW health authorities told AAP.

Cruising: Avoiding Norovirus on the high seas

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Experts say to prepare ahead is the best way to keep your health while on vacation. Bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands frequently, according to the New York Daily News. Proper hygeiene can go a long way. Practice your balance because you will want to avoid touching handrails.

cruisingExperts say Norovirus is spread by touching elevator buttons, salt and pepper shakers and anything else that the mass population will also come in contact with on the cruise ship.

According to reports, door handles, toilet seats and baby-changing tables pose a big risk, so proceed with caution! Press the elevator button with a knuckle instead of your fingertips, a trick that women with manicures have known the world over.

Avoid contact with salt and pepper shakers because norovirus is spread by common contact.  If you really need salt or pepper on your food, use a napkin to handle the shakers.

Use a handkerchief or napkin to touch door handles. 

vomit cruiseChange the baby on your cabin bed and use your foot to put down or lift a toilet seat. Handrails are deadly for spreading the virus. 

Avoid contact with the handrails and practice your balance by walking down the stairs in your home or office without using the banister. 

Cruise ship sickness/norovirus outbreaks lowest in 14 years

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The number of gastrointestinal illness (GI) outbreaks, including norovirus and enterotoxigenic E. coli, on cruise ships fell to the lowest level in 14 years in 2014.

vomit cruiseThe CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website contains detailed reports about the outbreaks on cruise ships from 1994 to 2015. The CDC considers it an outbreak anytime 3% or more of the passengers and crew members report diarrheal symptoms onboard a vessel of at least 100 passengers on sailings that are 3 days or longer.

There were nine reported outbreaks of GI on 7 different cruise ships in 2014, tying 2013 with the lowest number of outbreaks since 2001. When you take into consideration that the number of cruise ships is at a record high, this past year saw the lowest percentage of outbreaks on cruise ships since 2001.

172 Fall Ill after Norovirus outbreak on Princess Cruises Ship headed to L.A.

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More than 170 passengers and crew members on board a Princess Cruises cruise ship that was docked in San Pedro Sunday have fallen ill following an outbreak of Norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

vomit cruiseThe Crown Princess ship was sailing from Tahiti to Los Angeles on a month-long cruise when passengers began exhibiting symptoms of the gastrointestinal illness, according to a statement from Princess Cruises that was sent on Sunday.

“Over the last few days, the ship began seeing an increased number” of the cases, the statement read.

About 20 people currently had active cases of the illness, which causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Princess Cruises has taken active steps to combat the virus, including increased cleanings and disinfection procedures, and encouraging hand hygiene and case reporting, the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program reported.

Other steps would be taken once passengers disembarked from the ship to prevent the virus from spreading.

‘Cruise from hell’ Noro hits Australian cruise ship passengers

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Passengers aboard a cruise ship bound for Fremantle say more than 100 people were struck down by a particularly violent bout of gastroenteritis.

The Sea Princess, a 15-deck ship operated by Princess Cruises, left Fremantle for Singapore on August 18 and is due back on Saturday.

vomit cruiseIt missed several stops because of a mechanical issue but passengers have been compensated for the changes.

But the norovirus outbreak on the ship led one passenger to call it “the cruise from hell”.

Another passenger, Burswood real estate agent Jim Edwards, 56, became ill about a week into the cruise and said it was the worst bout of gastroenteritis he had ever had.

He said at least 200 of the ship’s 2000 passengers had contracted the bug – double Princess Cruises’ estimate of 100.

“I couldn’t believe how strong it was,” he said.

“I’m only in my 50s but it took everything out of me and that’s why I was worried about the older people. It was knocking them down like flies.”

A Princess Cruises spokesman said more stringent sanitation procedures were implemented after the first few complaints.

I didn’t poop in public but camera says I did: acute gastroenteritis and video camera surveillance on a cruise ship

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Researchers in Norway report that a fecal accident was discovered in front of a passenger cabin of a cruise ship. After proper cleaning of the area the passenger was approached, but denied having any gastrointestinal symptoms. However, when confronted with surveillance camera evidence, she admitted having the accident and even bringing the towel stained with diarrhea back to the pool towels bin.  She was isolated until the next port where she was disembarked.

No Poop(1)Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) caused by Norovirus is very contagious and easily transmitted from person to person on cruise ships. The main purpose of isolation is to avoid public vomiting and fecal accidents. To quickly identify and isolate contagious passengers and crew and ensure their compliance are key elements in outbreak prevention and control, but this is difficult if ill persons deny symptoms. All passenger ships visiting U.S. ports now have surveillance video cameras, which under certain circumstances can assist in finding potential index cases for AGE outbreaks.

‘Feels like you’re going to die’ BC couple on norovirus cruise demand refund

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A couple from Victoria, British Columbia (that’s in Canada) are demanding a full refund after enduring what they say was a nightmare cruise ship vacation.

norovirus-2Wally and Diane King embarked on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas last January. Norovirus struck on the second day of the week-long trip from Newark, New Jersey, to the Caribbean.

They were among more than 600 people who got sick on the ship.

“It feels like you are going to die and you wish you could, you know?” says Diane King. “It was just awful. I have never been that sick in my life.”

The Kings spent $7,300 on their holiday. Royal Caribbean offered some compensation to passengers, including a 50 per cent refund on the cost, on-board credit, and half-off on another cruise within a year.

The Kings received $1,300 back from Royal Caribbean: In their opinion, it wasn’t enough.

“It wasn’t a trip or a holiday for us. It was a disaster,” says Diane. “I want to be reimbursed for the whole trip.”

In a written statement, Royal Caribbean told CBC News: “We are sorry Mr. & Mrs. King got ill during this sailing and were not able to enjoy portions of their vacation. We recognized that this particular cruise was exceptionally challenging — so much so that our compensation went above and beyond what we normally offer in other circumstances.”

vomit cruiseSanjay Goel, president of travel agency Cruise Connections, says a full refund is the industry standard for compensation on cancelled cruises. Travellers can buy insurance to fully cover themselves in these sorts of situations.

“The most important thing for anyone to consider no matter what trip you are taking is to take out travel insurance,” says Goel. “That protects their investment against the unforeseen.”

The Kings say they don’t blame Royal Caribbean for their illnesses; just for not taking better care of its customers.

UK passengers take legal action after Norovirus outbreak on Norwegian cruise

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A cruise firm is being taken to court for the fourth consecutive year by passengers struck down by a vomiting bug on one of its ships.

vomit cruiseLawyers for ten passengers are launching legal action against Southampton-based P&O cruises after an outbreak of Norovirus on the Oriana.

Passengers suffered stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea on what should have been a dream holiday.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell Travel Litigation is taking action for the fourth year running. It secured damages of £70,000 for 24 passengers falling ill after separate outbreaks in 2011 and 2012 and are working on behalf of 16 passengers falling victim last year.

The latest bug struck in March when 57 people fell ill on a 12-day Norwegian cruise.

Crown Princess cruise ship hit with fourth norovirus outbreak in four years

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Earlier this year Time Magazine included Princess Cruise Line’s ship, the Crown Princess on a list of the 13 worst cruise-related norovirus outbreaks.

Twice.

4. Princess Cruises, Crown Princess (January 2010)

Total number sick: 396

In 2010, there were 14 outbreaks of illnesses on ships , including this one. Eight were attributed to norovirus.Crown Princess

5. Princess Cruises, Crown Princess (February 2012)

Total number sick: 363

The cruise, which embarked just a month after another outbreak on the ship, returned to Ft. Lauderdale two days early as passengers started falling ill.
Something is up with that ship as AP reports that 37 patrons of the Crown Princess are yet again barfing onboard.
Princess Cruises spokeswoman Karen Candy says about 37 passengers on the Crown Princess reported being sick while the ship was in San Francisco on Monday.
 
Candy says the ship’s staff began intense disinfecting of surfaces, and all sick passengers are being encouraged to remain in their rooms.