Could have been worse. It could have been CSM giving you the injection.
Posted on 11/16/2006 2:01:34 PM PST by quidnunc
By the time Carnival Cruise Lines' Liberty pulls into Port Everglades this weekend from a transatlantic voyage, more than 700 people on board will have been afflicted with a highly contagious, stomach flu-like illness that appears to be norovirus, the cruise line said Wednesday.
The outbreak could be the largest reported in recent years by the cruise industry.
"It's impossible for now to say what the source is," said David Forney, chief of the cruise ship sanitation program at the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said it's likely passengers brought the virus with them when they boarded and it spread from there, but U.S. inspectors will look at whether food or water contributed to the outbreak.
The cruise industry, which is required to report the illnesses to the CDC, records dozens of viral outbreaks annually, with most affecting fewer than 100 people.
While often publicized, the cruise ship outbreaks are far less common than they seem, affecting about one in every 3,600 cruise ship passengers, said Christine Fischer, spokeswoman for the International Council of Cruise Lines, an industry lobbying group.
"Your chances of actually contracting norovirus are much higher on land than on a cruise," she said.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
I've taken numerous cruises and enjoy it greatly. That said, Carnival is to cruising what Greyhound was to interstate travel.
In the end, you get what you pay for.
Sort of like the Staph infections that have become the scourge of hospitals.
Could have been worse. It could have been CSM giving you the injection.
Humm, if they don’t get off the ship in a US port they would not be considered illegal.
I went on a Mexican Riviera cruse last April. It was a Greek flagged vessel. The crew seemed to be from just about everywhere in the world except Mexico.
The funny part was after dropping us off in San Diego, the vessel departed for the summer season between Seattle and Alaska. Before they could depart out of the harbor in Seattle the captain was arrested for driving the boat under the influence.
I went on a cruise back in May, I don't recall any of the crew being American nor do I believe that it is a requirement.
Especially if the cruise line wants to make money.
Will never go on a cruise. Between the viruses, people disappearing and criminal activity. Forget it.
What you had was MUCH MUCH worse than AIDs.
At least with AIDs you're allowed to have the run of the ship.
Purity Control!
LOL!!
Ha! Like those things don't happen on land. On a per capita basis, it's probably safer on a ship. Certainly no gang violence or anything like that.
My wife and I have been on 15-20 cruises and loved every one, never had a problem. Do you realize how many cruise ships are sailing on any given day with well over 100,000 people total? These outbreaks are actually quite rare.
I love cruiseing never a problem and no one falls overboard with out help or jumps we are booked for a short one to mexico and then to alaska on a repo
Is there a Doctor in the House?
One who isn't sick?!
I have never heard a good word, or even a good syllable, about Carnival Cruises.
Some compensation! I would never get on another ship again either were I you! What a terrible experience!
Actually, the ships are not boring, kind of adult Disneyland and going ashore isn't the only fun. Having said that, the problems they have these days will keep me off the ships and in my own backyard!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.