Events by Ship:
Illness Outbreaks by Ship:
| Date |
Ship |
2012 |
| April 18 | Norwegian Gem | From a passenger:My family just came back from a cruise where all three of us were violently ill along with unconfirmed reports of up to 1000 other passengers. People started getting GI-related symptoms on Thursday 4/12/2012 when we were leaving Nassau. The cruise was from New York, to Port Canaveral to Great Stirrup Cay to Nassau & back to New York. Symptoms resolved within 24 hours. |
| January 27 | Norwegian Dawn | A pssenger reports: My wife and I just returned from a 10-day Caribbean cruise on the Norwegian Dawn and due to one or more kitchen staff falling ill, the buffet lines were no longer “self serve.” This led to some very interesting exchanges between dining guests and the staff. Also, when we disembarked on January 25th, a passenger was taken away by ambulance. |
| Date |
Ship |
2011 |
| December 31 | Norwegian Spirit | The CDC reports reports 94 of 2409 passengers (3.90%) and 13 of 945 crew (1.38%) have reported ill with gastrointestinal illness. A CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officer boarded the ship on arrival in New Orleans, LA on December 25, 2011 to conduct a targeted environmental health assessment and evaluated the outbreak and response activities. Ship crew completed a full comprehensive super-sanitation turn around between disembarking and embarking passengers. Stool specimens were sent to the CDC lab for testing, which revealed that this outbreak was caused by Norovirus.The ship is on a 7 day cruise ending December 25th. |
| January 15 | Norwegian Jewel | From a passenger: Just returned from cruise that sailed Jan 2. Major outbreaks of both gastro and upper respiratory amongst staff and passengers. Major infection control issues aboard. Ship was initally denying the outbreak but by 2nd day/3rd day of the 10 night cruise they restricted the bufffet to have sick (coughing ) staff serving you, and not allowing any take out food. Salt & pepper shakers removed after it was witnessed a child was licking them in the erestaurant. Sick staff continued to work spreading infections. Approx 30% off staff and at least that number or more of passengers affected. They removed all water ,ice & coffee from cabins. Denial by ship staff-top directors except hotel hospitality director himself was sick in cabin unablae to work. Lack of education and proper infection control procedures is rampant. |
| January 10 | Norwegian Dawn | From a reader: I just got back from a 9 day cruise to the SE Caribbean from 12/31/2010 through 01/09/2011 out of Miami. There were five of us in our travel party. We all got sick, one by one. Some of us had upper respiratory symptoms, some lower GI symptoms. The illness was starting to come around again to us all by the time we got off the ship. Aside from the sporadically placed hand sanitizers around the ship and despite someone standing guard in the buffet room spraying our hands as we entered there was still illness. By the time we got to our home port, lots of people were coughing and we heard rumor of someone getting airlifted out of St. Kitts with a severe GI problem. In observing sanitation measures while onboard, it was apparent that many passengers hadn’t a clue on hygiene so there is a number one source of illness. Plus we think the buffet is a hotbed of germs as passengers were able to self-serve until two days before the cruise ended when the crew began serving the passengers. NOTE: What is described here sounds like a typical seasonal flu, not norovirus. However, it reminds us of the importance of good hygiene (frequent hand washing, etc) in order to avoid contracting illness, whether it be a flu or norovirus (which is not an influenza). |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2010 |
| 1.11.10 | Norwegian Spirit | When I boarded the ship on Oct 23 in Boston for a 5 day repo to New Orleans we were advised that the previous cruise had a 3% outbreak of a gastro related illness and the the ship was doing everything to try and get the bug eliminated. We are now more than half way through the cruise and it is still operating on CDC rules - no self service etc. Staff have been doing a great job of serving us and for the most part the cruisers seem to be accepting the tighter controls. The captain continues to assure us that they are getting the problem under control but I doubt we will see any relief on the cruise. |
| 10.1.10 | Norwegian Jade | A reader reports: there were reports on our sailing (Jan 3rd) that 300 pax were sick with GI. One passenger who came down sick was a close friend of mine. I can tell you that after the first day, all buffet areas were no longer "self serve" and remained that way for the entire cruise. NCL appeared to be very diligent in battling the outbreak. Crew was sanitizing constantly, and did seem to get it under control. From another reader: According to one ship announcement the illness involved up to 8% of the passengers. The Jade went into extensive prevention measures including hand santisers in every elevator, crew with hand spray at the entrance to each restaurant and the major shop, removal of all brochures about trips which normally are available for passenger reading, and substituting crew for all self-service including bread at dinner, coffee and tea in the cafe. When we returned to Barcelona at the end of the cruise continuing passengers were obliged to leave the ship for several hours in the morning as the entire ship was being sanitized. Sorry to say it didn't work for me - I came down with a virus of short duration at the second Moroccan port with complications that lasted several days. Medical attention was prompt, and free, and, fortunately, effective. |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2009 |
| 30.10.09 | Norwegian Spirit | The CDC reports 9 of 965 (0.93%) crew and 73 of 1991 (3.66%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 16 day cruise ending November 8 in New Orleans. |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2008 |
| 17.10.08 |
Norwegian Jewel | For the second cruise in a row the ship reported an outbreak
of gatsrointestinal illness. Today the ship reported 11 of 1084
(1.0%)
crew and 86 of 2132 (4.1%) passengers
had
reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 10 day cruise ending
tomorrow. |
| 8.10.08 |
Norwegian Jewel | The ship reported 8 of 1071 (0.75%) crew and 127 of 2132 (5.96%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 10 day cruise ending today. |
| 25.5.08 |
Norwegian Pearl | FROM A PASSENGER: We were on Inside Passage Alaska cruise May 18-25, 2008, and there was illness on the cruise. We were told at the start of the cruise that they had had 500 people sick the previous week on the ship. Not sure how many were sick on our cruise, but they never did open the buffet line. All food was served by crew. I contracted the virus on the 2nd to last day of our cruise and my husband and I were both quarantined. One visit from the nurse with shot for nausea and meds for vomiting and diarrhea and stomach cramping. Two check-up calls from the reception desk the next morning. We had to order all food from room service and it took more than 8 hours to get Gatorade and saltines. No further contact with any crew other than room steward. No instructions as to how long this would last. FROM ANOTHER PASSENGER: I was aboard the ship at the time. Please note that the number of ill passengers and crew were less than 2% - the percentage that they are legally required to report to CDC. With 4000 guests and crew onboard, 500 sick would mean 8 percent were ill. Granted, they had an elevated number of cases, which by NCL policy (8 or more new cases in a 24 hour period) they go to extreme control measures to ensure it does not become higher. Those measures include the elimination of self-service (for guests and crew alike). |
| 18.5.08 |
Norwegian Pearl | There
was a large outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on the May 11 - 18
cruise. There has been no official report from the CDC. (see May 25 for
what details we have.) |
| 28.4.08 |
Norwegian Dream | The ship reported 10 of 726 (1.38%) crew and 99 of 1579 (6.27%) passengers had reported ill on an 18 day cruise that began April 13 and which disembarks May 1. |
| 27.1.08 | Norwegian Star | The ship reported 32 of 1104 (2.9%) crew and 228 of 2430 (9.39%) passengers had reported ill on an 8 day Mexican Riviera cruise that began January 19 in Los Angeles and which disembarked January 27. |
| 13.1.08 | Norwegian Spirit | The ship reported 4 (0.42%) crew and 67 (3.18%) passengers had reported ill on a cruise to/from New Orleans. |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2007 |
| 7.12.07 |
Norwegian Pearl | The ship reported 15 of 1097
(1.27%)
crew and 273 of 2377 (11.49%) passengers
had
reported ill on a 8 day eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami. |
| 11.11.07 |
Norwegian Dawn | A passenger disembarking today from the 14 day repositioning cruise from New York to Miami writes that the gastrointestinal outbreak that began on the previous cruise (see October 25) continued on this one. S/he writes: We were confined to our room for 5 days. We were told people infected with this bug were spreading it by leaving their room. I'm not sure how that could happen. There is no way you want to go anywhere as you can just about make it to the bathroom and back to bed. There are no words to describe how terrible this virus is. It is nothing like any flu virus you have ever experienced. We were extremely careful with regard to hygiene, washing our hands and sanitizing whenever possible, especially entering and exiting restaurants. It was very obvious there was a problem onboard. No salt and pepper shakers on tables, no sugar packs on tables. These items were handled by tongs from the server. No trays allowed at the buffet and you could not get your own drinks. Always a crew member handling the cups or glasses for you. Sanitizing measures were evident throughout the ship (thank God). This ship needs to be dry docked for a few days to sanitize and disinfect everything. Of course that won't happen. It would be a loss of money. People will continue to get sick. It was a horrible experience and of course ruined our cruise. We missed most of the ports and once we were cleared and allowed out of our room, the enthusiasm was gone. |
| 26.10.07 |
Norwegian Dawn | The CDC reported on October 25 that 15 of 1061 (1.41%) crew and 149 of 2169 (6.85%) passengers had reported ill on a 12 day Atlantic Canada cruise from New York. |
| 16.8.07 |
Norwegian Crown | Forty passengers and two crew members sought medical assistance after experiencing symptoms that include stomach cramps and nausea. The Bermuda Department of Health took water samples to be tested. The ship is expected to depart Bermuda for New York City on Friday afternoon. |
| 25.5.07 |
Norwegian Star |
The ship reported that 7 of 1100 (0.65%) crew and 177 of 2331 (7.59%) passengers had reported ill on a 7 day Alaska cruise from Seattle (19 - 26 May). |
| 22.4.07 |
Norwegian Pearl | A passenger just returning from a 9 day Southern Caribbean cruise reports that there had been an illness outbreak, but he couldn't reliably estimate the number affected. Rumours onboard put the number reporting ill in the hundreds. On May 17, the CDC issued a report indicating 92 of 2490 passengers (3.69%) and 7 of 1084 (0.65%) had reported ill during the cruise. |
| 15.3.07 | Norwegian Crown | The ship reported that 2 (0.37%) crew and 51 (4.09%) passengers had reported ill on a 7 day cruise to/from New York City (11 - 18 March). |
| 10.1.07 |
Norwegian Star | A passenger disembarking yesterday from a 9 day cruise
Mexican Riviera cruise to/from :os Angeles reports there were a number
of people falling ill with gastrointestinal illness. It does not
appear that numbers exceeded 3% which is threshold for the CDC to
indicate an "outbreak." |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2006 |
| 9.12.06 |
Norwegian Wind |
The ship reported that 7 of 691 (0.01%) crew and 77 of 1691 (4.61%) passengers had reported ill on the 29 November -9 December Hawaiian cruise from Honolulu. Symptons were consistent with gastrointestinal illness (e.g., norovirus) |
| 22.5.06 |
Norwegian Sun |
On May 21, the ship reported that 6 of 924 (0.65%) crew and
71 of 2107 (3.37%) passengers were ill. The predominant symptoms
were vomiting and diarrhea. The 7 day Alaska cruise ended in
Seattle. |
| 21.5.06 |
Norwegian Star | The ship was thoroughtly santizied after an outbreak of grastrointestinal illness on the May 14-21 Alaska cruise. According to the CDC, 115 of 2388 (4.82%) passengers and 12 of 1063 (1.13%) crew members reported ill. According to Associated Press, sick passengers were quarantined and seven were put off the ship in Skagway. Embarking passengers were told of the illness. (Here's a passenger's addition and correction.) |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2005 |
| 29.3.05 |
Norwegian Crown | The CDC reports that 60 of 1020 passengers (5.88%) and 4 of 531crew members (.75%) reported ill during the March 13 - March 28 cruise ending in Miami. The ship had just returned from its South America itineraries and as noted below (February 1 - 27) had had health outbreaks on previous cruises. These earlier illnesses were reported by passengers but were not reported by the CDC because cruises that don't include a US port in their itinerary are not required to report health outbreaks to the CDC. |
| 13-25.2.05 | Norwegian Crown | A passenger wrote the following: Both my husband and I got the norwalk virus and I know lots of other people got norwalk. Another passenger reported that approximately half of the passengers onboard became ill. Cruises that don't include a US port in their itinerary are not required to report health outbreaks to the CDC. Second cruise in a row with an outbreak. |
| 1-13.2.05 |
Norwegian Crown | Passengers boarding at Valpariso on February 13 were
advised there had been "small" outbreak of a benign gastrointestinal
bug that affected about 3%, or 34, of the passengers on the previous
cruise that they said was brought onboard by passengers/crew at one of
the ships ports-of-call, and they had taken numerous steps to eradicate
the virus before the cruise ended. Passengers were given an
option to
cancel and get credit for a future cruise. Due to the timing
ofthis notice, no one likely accepted the offer. There are also reports of a large-scale outbreak (some estimate 15% of passengers) of viral illness on the Jan 16-29 cruise. Cruises that don't include a US port in their itinerary are not required to report health outbreaks to the CDC. |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2004 |
| 10.12.04 |
Norwegian Dream | The ship reported that an unusual number
of passengers and some crew members were experiencing GI
illness. The ship’s medical staff reported that 73 of 1749 (9.37%)
passengers and 9 of 744 (1.21%) crew members were ill.
Predominant symptoms are diarrhea and vomiting. The cruise ends
in New Orleans on December 12. According to a passenger, the
numbers were significantly higher: "Once the passengers realized that
reporting gastrointestinal illnesses would result in a 48 hour
quarantine, many just suffered and gutted it out (pun intended) in
their rooms." |
| 10.12.04 |
Norwegian Sea | The ship reported that an unusual number
of passengers and some crew members were experiencing GI
illness. The ship’s medical staff reported that 44 of 1531 (2.87%)
passengers and 4 of 683 (0.58%) crew members were ill.
Predominant symptoms are diarrhea and vomiting. The cruise ends
in Houston on December 11. |
| 7.5.04 |
Norwegian
Crown |
For
a second week in a row, passengers were struck with
illness consistent witn norovirous. On May
9, the ship
reported that 39 passengers and 6 crew had reported illness consistent
with norovirus.. |
| 3.5.04 |
Norwegian
Wind |
On
May 2, the ship reported that 57
passengers (3.39%)
and 2
crew had
reported illness consistent with norovirus. The cruise ran
from April 17 - May 3,
ending in Los Angeles. |
| 2.5.04 |
Norwegian
Crown |
On
May 2, the ship reported that 43 passengers (3.88%) and 2
crew
had reported illness consistent with norovirus. The cruise ran
from April 25 - May 2, ending in Philadelphia.. |
| 30.4.04 |
Norwegian
Crown |
On
May 2, the ship reported that 43 passengers and 2 crew
had reported illness consistent with norovirus. The cruise ran
from April 25 - May 2,
ending in Philadelphia. |
| 31.3.04 |
Norwegian
Crown |
On
March
31, the ship reported that 43 passengers and 8 crew
had reported illness consistent with norovirus. The
cruise ran from March 22 - April 4. There had been
a similar outbreak in the cruise before (see below) |
| 24.3.04 |
Norwegian
Crown |
On
March 20, the ship reported that 69 passengers and 9 crew
had reported illness consistent with norovirus. The cruise ran
from March 7 - 22. |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2003 |
| 28.9.03 | Norwegian Sky | A health outbreak was reported, but specimens were not obtained and no other information is available. |
| 27.5.03 |
Norwegian
Sky |
About
90 passengers and 20 crew members returning on a
cruise
on Saturday (May 24) reportedly contracted Norwalk-like virus. This was
the second week in a row with
an outbreak. |
| 19.5.03 |
Norwegian
Sky |
About
55 passengers and 5 crew members returning on a cruise
on Saturday (May 17) reportedly contracted Norwalk-like virus. |
| 31.3.03 | Norwegian Dream |
A health outbreak was reported, Norovirus was confirmed -- 98 passengers (6.08%) and 5 crew (.68%) reported ill. |
| 5.1.03 |
Norway |
Reported
that 105 passengers and 11 crew contracted
Norwalk-like virus. Passengers onboard suggested that the number
afflicted was much higher than 100. |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2002 |
| 28.9 - 5.10.02 |
Norwegian
Sun |
91 passengers (4.58%) and 2 crew (.21%) reportedly came down with gastrointestinal illness (Norwalk-like virus) |
| 10-25.9.02 | Norwegian
Deam |
169 passengers coming down with a gastrointestinal illness. The ship provided free infirmary visits, passengers who were ill were restricted to their cabin, the were limited to no self service buffets, etc. Source of illness: Shigella and Giardia. CDC numbers: 165 passengers (10.12%) and 4 crew (.56%). |
| 29.8.02 |
Norwegian
Deam |
Reported
on a cruise chat
board that up to 15% of passengers on this
Scandinavian Capitals cruise
contracted a gastrointestinal illness. Unconfirmed whether the
source was Norwalk-like virus, but the ship provided free infirmary
visits, passengers who were ill were restricted to their cabin, the
were limited to no self service buffets, etc. |
| 5.8.02 |
Norwegian
Dream |
It
was reported by a passenger that as many as 100 people
got
food poisoning when they took the excursion to Moscow on the
Scandinavian
cruise that began on August 5th. The ship provided free infirmary
services. |
| 10.8.02 |
Norwegian
Sun |
Gastrointestinal outbreak reported to CDC -- Gastrointestinal outbreak reported to CDC -- 78 pax (3.50%) and 25 crew (2.62%) |
| dd/mm/yy |
Ship |
2001 and earlier |
| Apr.01 |
Norwegian Sky | Illness outbreak reported by CDC -- details unknown. |
| Oct.98 |
Norway |
Illness (Norwalk virus) outbreak reported by CDC -- details unknown |
| Apr.97 |
Royal Odyssey |
A no sail recommendation after three successive cruises
experienced elevated illness rates (39% of passengers and 17% of crew)
on one cruise. Cause of the illness was Norwalk virus. |