Freedom of the Seas Latest Cruise Ship Hit by the Norovirus

Cruise Ship Report ^ | December 4, 2006

[Zakeet]

The world's largest cruise ship, Freedom of the Seas, returned to Miami on Dec. 3rd with more than 380 passengers and crew were sickened by what was believed to be the norovirus, according to Royal Caribbean Cruise Line officials.

The outbreak struck Freedom during a week-long cruise to the western Caribbean, and was likely brought aboard on Nov. 26th by an ill guest, according to the company. The norovirus, spread by contact, can quickly sweep through enclosed areas like cruise ships.

The outbreak on Freedom comes only a couple of weeks after more than 700 passengers and crew members were sickened during a trans-Atlantic repositioning sailing by the Carnival Cruise Lines ship Carnival Liberty from Italy to Fort Lauderdale.

The norovirus, which is characterized by stomach flu-like symptoms, affects about 23 million Americans annually, making it the second most common illness after the common cold, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

[Zakeet]

You can read about the last norovirus outbreak (about two weeks ago) on the Carnival Liberty here.

[bondjamesbond]

[rod1]

Also---I wonder how many ship cases are not reported widely for slightly smaller ships. I just got off of Holland America Massdam Nov. 30th from an 11 day cruise out of Nolfolk. The last 4 days of the Southern Carribean cruise were spent in Code Red with a major GI viral outbreak as well. All food operations were changed, hot tubs closed, and madatory sanitation at all dining/show entrances (before that it had been voluntary). No hand shaking at any reception, period. The land staff in Norfolk was telling us no staff was allowed on the ship opon its reutrn.

I have yet to see a news report for that ship and do not know how many passengers total of the c1250 became sick. The cruise staff simply reported it was their highest level of concern.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The ships look very unstable to me.

[Atlas Sneezed]

People get sick on cruise vacations at a much lower rate than they do on land vacations, I'd wager.

And the better lines already have long-standing no-handshake rules, mandatory hand sanitizers, and rarely have problems.

[NormsRevenge]

yuck.. and all that food to sample too.. bummer.

That's a big ship.

[CaptainAmiigaf]

Something is wrong with the cruise ships. The US Navy puts upto 5000 sailors on a single ship, living in conditions that violate the constitutional rights of convicts (they are living in a huge, floating MACHINE) and never is a problem heard of. While serving on a Navy ship, I was always amazed at the good health of the crew despite the impossible close living conditions. When someone became ill, it was virtually assured the problem was picked up on the beach. Too many Navy ships and personnel to be just a coincidence. Too FEW cruise ships with too MANY sick people to be just a coindidence.

[Teacher317]

Well, there's just slightly more discipline, control, and cleaning crews to step over on a warship with healthy and athletic youngsters rather than on a luxury cruise-liner with elderly retirees.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Years ago, a guy from my office mentioned he was taking his wife on a cruise. When he got back he said the travel agency had put them on a shipload of seniors (read folks with walkers, oxygen tanks, etc.) They enjoyed themselves despite the mix-up.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Too many Navy ships and personnel to be just a coincidence. Too FEW cruise ships with too MANY sick people to be just a coindidence.

---

Gee, a population of young, fit, disciplined and regimented people selected for particular attributes, versus a population of old, fat, drunk, careless, recreating folks whose only qualification was a credit card. Not to mention the difference in attitude of the management toward their passengers.

Hmmm... there must be some medical science in there somewhere.

[July 4th]

Freedom of the Seas

Freedom of Disease!

[COEXERJ145]

Wait until the Genesis class of cruise ship goes into service. IIRC they're supposed to weigh in at 225,000 tons.

[Hildy]

I do not get the appeal of these "MEGA" cruiselines...why would you want to be stuck at sea with thousands of people? I've been on big cruise ships, and 5 days was about my limit. I'm like cruises, don't get me wrong, by why would you want to vacation with 10,000 other people?

[COEXERJ145]

I wouldn't want to, that's for sure. Cruises may look like fun but I can't see myself on one.

[7thson]

I have been on one civilian cruise and about a dozen six month cruises in the Navy. I enjoyed the civilian cruise better. Sure, you are onboard with a bunch of strangers, but it's like a vacation in any large city. You interact with the strangers only when you have to. I enjoyed laying around by the pool and chilling out for several days. It is nice to go on a cruise and not have to do any of the work. Makes me feel like a supply type in the Navy. 8-)

[jd777]

The cruise ships travel in lanes and they dump all the waste products into the water, and the next ships follow in their wake and they take up water from the same lanes.

[linda_22003]

That's what I thought, until we took our first cruise this past summer. We did not take a "mega" ship; it was important to us to be on one of manageable size, and ours had 700 passengers. We took it because we were going to be in Russia for part of the time, and preferred to be able to come back to a higher standard of comfort at the end of the day.

Check out the "take a tour" button on this page: http://www.rssc.com/ships/ship.jsp?code=VOY

[Bella_Bru]

Is it so damn hard for people to learn to wash their freaking hands after using the restroom?!?! Look at the CDC's web info regarding norovirus. It is transmitted via fecal-vomit-oral route. That means people are NOT washing their hands after using the restoroom then shaking your hand or cooking your food and getting you sick.