A retired couple who has spent a significant part of their lives enjoying cruises is currently facing a challenging situation. Bob Pettit, at 87 years old, along with nearly 100 other passengers on the Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas, recently contracted norovirus shortly after leaving San Diego.
This cruise, stretching over 13 days, includes stops in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia, but it hasn’t been the relaxing escape they had hoped for.
“I’m 87; I’ve never felt this sick before,” Pettit shared, clearly shaken by the experience.
The CDC has verified the outbreak affecting passengers onboard the ship.
As of Wednesday, around 94 passengers and 4 crew members reported being ill, according to the CDC. Pettit described the onset as particularly harsh, saying, “It really hit you hard.” He noticed symptoms beginning with an upset stomach that developed a few days after the cruise started.
Common symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and fever, as noted by health officials. Outbreaks like this tend to occur in crowded settings, a frequent scenario on cruise ships.
While quarantine measures may help, Pettit felt they weren’t sufficient to stave off the illness in this case.
Pettit’s son, Josh, mentioned that in light of this, they’re both reconsidering their hygiene practices when dining out on trips. “We’re definitely trying to think more about it and keep our hands clean before we touch the food,” he noted.
Royal Caribbean stated they are committed to keeping a safe environment for passengers and crew members, emphasizing their thorough cleaning protocols.
Despite the setbacks, the father-son duo managed to stay healthy, attempting to enjoy the rest of their trip. “Hopefully, things are turning the corner here and getting better,” Josh remarked.
Their cruise is set to return to Miami on Thursday, amid reports of 19 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruises this year, including 14 specifically linked to norovirus. This situation reflects three separate outbreaks of norovirus on Royal Caribbean ships already this year.
