My next door neighbors left last Tuesday for a 10 day cruise in the Eastern Caribbean on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship Explorer of the Seas. I saw them shortly before they departed. We were both shoveling snow from our front sidewalks. The Explorer of the Seas would be sailing from New York in a winter snow storm and my neighbor commented that at the very least it would be “a memorable trip.” It turns out that this voyage will be memorable for reasons other than weather. It is now being reported that close to 600 of the more than 3,000 passengers have been sickened by a norovirus aboard the ship. The cruise schedule was modified and now has been shortened. The ship is on her way back to a berth in Bayonne in New York harbor. I only hope my neighbors were among the roughly 80% of the passengers not made ill by the virus.
The norovirus is a highly contagious organism that causes vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, fever, and stomach pain. It is spread by individuals infected by the virus, through contaminated food or water and by contact with contaminated surfaces. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Each year, it causes 19-21 million illnesses and contributes to 56,000-71,000 hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths. Norovirus is also the most common cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the United States.”
This is norovirus season. While there can be outbreaks at any time during the year, the CDC reports that more than 80% of the outbreaks occur from November to April. Noroviruses can spread on land or sea but are particularly nasty in the confined spaces of a cruise ship. The CDC maintains a database of outbreaks on cruise ships where more than 3% of those aboard become sick with the virus. All of the major cruise lines have been hit by the norovirus, although the outbreak on the Explorer of the Seas is especially severe with close 20% of the passengers being made ill.
The norovirus is indeed worse than cannibal rats, as the rats were an April Fool’s joke that went viral, whereas the norovirus is no laughing matter.
Not again, let’s have good news!!
Good Watch.
This is only one of the problems of creating these large floating cities in attempting to provide a cheap holiday where once those that could afford sailed on vessels with limited capacity and well trained staff.
It was much closer to half the ship, because of the number of people who did not report their illness. This was my first cruise, and likely my last, at least on an RC ship, and on any ship that large. They cannot control the hygiene and the quality of the food sufficiently, and what was supposed to be a vacation turned into confinement in a nursing home/hospital.
Been on one RCCL ships as cook. Had to run away from a general disorganized mess.Noro is bound to occur according to one top HR officer just like death occurs he said. Seen one toilet for a total of 60 cooks. Stinking gloves. People handling fresh cream preparations with bare hands in a 30 deg Celsius atmosphere. Cooks hiding and competing for small equipments like spatulas and can openers. Had to wash my whisks my cake silicon pads twice because they are stained by kitchen leftovers sticking to them all in a very wet atmosphere near the kitchen giant washing machine. Philipinos attendants were overwhelmed by the load of cutlery and crockery washing. Unavailability of can openers make people open tin can by punching a triangle on top using knives. God knows how many people got poisoned with tin chloride as metal filaments got dissolved by gastric acid. Truth is there is no police health or whatsoever inspector onboard. Be loud n vocal NO HR officer would accept that. Because there is one silly marking scheme saying 98% this week never been so good…. For whom? who cares anyway? Shocking administration.all the top officers know about it.There is a permanent fear of retaliation onboard. ….welcome to the jungle