Even after more than 100 passengers and crew members fell ill during a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, passenger Jan van Milligen said life on board still seemed surprisingly normal.
“The usual atmosphere remains,” Van Milligen, who has spent the last 21 days aboard the ship with family and friends from South Africa, told NBC News on Saturday. “Last night we went to see a show, we had dinner and this morning we had breakfast.”
The outbreak affected 102 of the ship’s 3,116 passengers and 13 crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The predominant symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea, and the agency identified norovirus as the cause.
The CDC indicated that the outbreak was reported on Thursday, during the ship’s voyage through the Caribbean between April 28 and May 11.
Until Saturday afternoon, the ship was located north of the Dominican Republic, heading to Nassau (Bahamas), according to data from CruiseMapper.
(The United States monitors passengers of the cruise ship with hantavirus outbreak who left the ship after deaths)
Princess Cruises stated that “a limited number of people reported mild gastrointestinal symptoms” during the voyage, which departed from Port Everglades, Florida.
“We quickly disinfected all areas of the ship and intensified disinfection measures throughout the entire voyage,” the company said in a statement. “Upon arrival at Port Canaveral on May 11, Caribbean Princess will undergo extensive cleaning and disinfection before setting sail for its next voyage.”
The cruise line said it implemented enhanced sanitation procedures, while the CDC reported that sick passengers and crew members were isolated and stool samples were collected for testing.
Van Milligen noted the stricter sanitation measures applied on board.
“The cruise line took all necessary precautions to stop the spread,” he said by email, adding that they “acted with great professionalism” and that passengers were informed of the situation in a timely manner.
Among the changes he noticed, he highlighted that passengers became more cautious about hygiene, washing their hands more frequently. He also noted that passengers were no longer allowed to serve themselves at the buffet.
Another passenger on board, Donna Leonte, of Florida, said she boarded the ship in Fort Lauderdale on April 28 with her husband and four friends to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary.
(They confirm a new case of the deadly hantavirus in Switzerland linked to the cruise ship that set sail from Argentina)
“We’re fine. Safety precautions are in place, but it’s nothing life-threatening,” Leonte told NBC News on Saturday afternoon.
Said also noted the reinforcement of hygiene and disinfection measures throughout the ship.
“The washing stations are staffed to make sure people don’t overlook them, and there are Purell disinfectant dispensers everywhere,” he said.
He also said that passengers have continued to participate in onboard activities despite the outbreak.
“People should be aware and take precautions. We are not missing any activities,” he said.
Like Van Milligen, Leonte mentioned that the buffet’s operation had changed.
(These are the ports that the cruise ship that has the deadly hantavirus outbreak has passed through)
“The buffet has enough staff, and they are the ones who deliver the plates, cutlery and food,” he said. “They are doing an excellent job.”
Similar protocols were implemented in March, after more than 150 people aboard another Princess Cruises ship touring the Caribbean also fell ill with norovirus.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that often causes vomiting and diarrhea, and can spread quickly in closed, crowded spaces, such as cruise ships, according to the CDC. Cruise lines are required to report outbreaks to the agency when at least 3% of passengers or crew report gastrointestinal symptoms.
