Health officials reported this week that an outbreak of norovirus on a Princess Cruises ship affected over 100 passengers and several crew members, who experienced severe symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.
During its 14-day cruise through the Eastern Caribbean, 102 of the 3,116 passengers on board the Caribbean Princess reported contracting this highly infectious stomach virus, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Additionally, 13 of the 1,131 crew members felt unwell.
A representative for Princess Cruises acknowledged to the Post that a limited number of individuals experienced mild gastrointestinal illness during the cruise originating from Port Everglades on April 28.
They stated, “We swiftly disinfected all areas of the ship and increased cleaning measures during the voyage. The Caribbean Princess, which docked at Port Canaveral on May 11, will undergo a thorough cleaning before its next trip.”
The CDC categorized those with symptoms as part of a group sometimes referred to as the “vomiting virus.” Symptoms included diarrhea and vomiting aboard the 948-foot ship, which embarked from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
To control the outbreak, cruise officials have isolated sick individuals, enhanced cleaning protocols to prevent further infection, and are collecting stool samples from those affected for analysis.
This ship, which is over 20 years old, is set to return to Florida on Monday after scheduled stops at locations including the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
The disease, known for its high transmissibility, was first reported to the CDC’s Ship Hygiene Program last Thursday.
Notably, this marks the second norovirus outbreak on a Princess Cruises ship this year.
Earlier in March, the same illness impacted the Star Princess, infecting 141 passengers and 52 crew members during a week-long journey in the Western Caribbean.
