Norovirus Outbreak Hits Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

I just got this email from someone on the Explorer. She wrote it last night. Sounds dreadful to me.

The Captain cancelled the welcome back reception for tonite. There are over 200 who reported so far with the noro virus symptoms. We are not stopping at "Labadee" but continuing on to San Jaun. Will get there ard 8 pm and stay there til 10 pm the next day. The tables in the dining room were very sparse with diners.

Three at our table have it. They are offering free consultation at the medical office if you are sick. The pool deck is open today. The promenade is empty. Pushing the hand washing and the "washy-washy". Took the salt and pepper off the tables. Using paper packets. Serving food from the wind jammer - no self self. Doing a lot of cleaning and disinfecting. Hopefully they get it contained.

That sounds awful - hope it doesn't get any worse and that your friend stays well.

How far into the cruise are they?

That sounds awful - hope it doesn't get any worse and that your friend stays well.

 

How far into the cruise are they?

Left on tuesday from bayonne

Left on tuesday from bayonne

They left in a terrible snow storm.

I just got this email from someone on the Explorer. She wrote it last night. Sounds dreadful to me.

 

The Captain cancelled the welcome back reception for tonite. There are over 200 who reported so far with the noro virus symptoms. We are not stopping at "Labadee" but continuing on to San Jaun. Will get there ard 8 pm and stay there til 10 pm the next day. The tables in the dining room were very sparse with diners.

 

Three at our table have it. They are offering free consultation at the medical office if you are sick. The pool deck is open today. The promenade is empty. Pushing the hand washing and the "washy-washy". Took the salt and pepper off the tables. Using paper packets. Serving food from the wind jammer - no self self. Doing a lot of cleaning and disinfecting. Hopefully they get it contained.

Here is a link to the CDC report, 281 passengers and 22 crew as of when the report was filed.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2014/january21_explorer_seas.htm

Here is a link to the CDC report, 281 passengers and 22 crew as of when the report was filed.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2014/january21_explorer_seas.htm

Wow, thanks, didn't know they were obtainable. Good to know.

Wow, thanks, didn't know they were obtainable. Good to know.

You're welcome. You can also look at the inspection scores and the reports associated with the inspections on that site too. Just look under vessel sanitation program and pick the ship you are interested in checking out.

You're welcome. You can also look at the inspection scores and the reports associated with the inspections on that site too. Just look under vessel sanitation program and pick the ship you are interested in checking out.

That's great info..thanks again. :)

That's a big one there, hopefully they contain it well.

I sympathize with the passengers and crew. Awful to get sick on their dream vacation or to be on a "sick" ship.

I'm sure the crew is working extra hard to contain it.

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Woah! I hope they contain it and everyone is ok.

I sympathize with the passengers and crew. Awful to get sick on their dream vacation or to be on a "sick" ship.

 

I'm sure the crew is working extra hard to contain it.

 

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Hope they feel better. We are on that cruise for 1/31. Don't no what happens

How is 10% a small outbreak, That's alot! One out of every 10 people you see on the cruise is sick?

Could the reason be they are skipping the stop in Labadee is because that don't want the Noro to spread to the island when other ships from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity fleet would catch it to?

I wouldn't want to be on the next sailing, but take sanitizer and disposable gloves if you are

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When I cruised last, they really pushed you using hand sanitizer as you entered restaurant, but then you handled the menu, which I thought then negated the hand sanitizer.

Hope everyone feels better soon.

Hope they feel better. We are on that cruise for 1/31. Don't no what happens

It usually causes a delay in sailing while the crew does a massive cleaning of the ship. That ship will be cleaner than its ever been after that virus outbreak..LOL.

How is 10% a small outbreak, That's alot! One out of every 10 people you see on the cruise is sick? & days to go on the cruise, what happens if even more get sick? which is very much likely to happen isn't it?

Could the reason be they are skipping the stop in Labadee is because that don't want the Noro to spread to the island when other ships from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity fleet would catch it too?

Jimbo:)

How is 10% a small outbreak, That's alot! One out of every 10 people you see on the cruise is sick? & days to go on the cruise, what happens if even more get sick? which is very much likely to happen isn't it?

 

Could the reason be they are skipping the stop in Labadee is because that don't want the Noro to spread to the island when other ships from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity fleet would catch it too?

 

Jimbo:)

Bingo

I'm on the ship in March so I hope it's all cleaned up by then! I feel bad for those on this sailing and the next sailing.

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How is 10% a small outbreak, That's alot! One out of every 10 people you see on the cruise is sick? & days to go on the cruise, what happens if even more get sick? which is very much likely to happen isn't it?

 

Could the reason be they are skipping the stop in Labadee is because that don't want the Noro to spread to the island when other ships from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity fleet would catch it too?

 

Jimbo:)

If Royal Caribbean and the CDC handle an increasing outbreak like they did with the Crown Princess in 2012, they will bring the ship back early. The Crown had an outbreak and did a delayed boarding of the next sailing to do a deep cleaning. The ship didn't leave port until after 11pm. That sailing also had a larger outbreak, my mom was on that sailing. The ship had cancelled its first port because they left so late and was headed to their second port, on day 2 in the middle of the night, my mom woke up to the ship slowing and turning. By morning, they found out they were headed back to Port Everglades after never making a single port. They got a full refund for that cruise, their on board accounts paid and a very generous credit for another cruise. The ship came back in after a 4 day cruise to nowhere. My mom and her friends, all seniors, never got sick and had a great time.

Time will tell, but if it gets worse, I would expect the CDC and the cruiseline to bring Explorer back to Bayonne early.

Aren't the sick quarrantined in their cabins? They would not be allowed to disembark in a port.

This is only their 4th night on the cruise and already 281 passengers sick...Not good and with 6 nights to go. Not fun at all.

Jimbo:)

This is only their 4th night on the cruise and already 281 passengers sick...Not good and with 6 nights to go. Not fun at all.

 

Jimbo:)

Well, with CDC boarding the ship on the 26th in St Thomas, I bet that is when we will see a decision made. Interesting they are sending more crew too.

This happened fast. We got off the ship Tuesday and all was pretty good, heard of a few sick but not enough to worry. Glad we did not do b2b. Feel bad for all those who got sick, not the way to spend your vacation!