| 2007 Box Score |
2008 Box Score |
2009 Box Score |
||||||||||
| Illness: |
# of reports |
Pax Sick |
Crew Sick |
Total Sick |
# of reports |
Pax Sick |
Crew Sick |
Total Sick |
# of reports |
Pax Sick |
Crew Sick |
Total Sick |
| Gastrointestinal (including Noro virus) |
41 |
4221 |
349 |
4570 |
35 |
3292 |
259 | 3551 |
30 |
3565 |
235 |
3800 |
| E coli |
2 |
166 |
19 |
185 |
||||||||
| Salmonella |
||||||||||||
| Shigella |
||||||||||||
| Other |
1 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
235 |
162 |
397 |
||
| Total |
42 |
4228 |
349 |
4577 |
39 |
3465 |
278 |
3743 |
33 |
3800 |
397 |
4197 |
| NOTE: Box Score includes outbreaks confirmed by the CDC or those reported by multiple sources with reliable numbers. Estimates given by passengers are generally not included in the table. | ||||||||||||
| Year |
#
of Reports |
Total
Sick |
| 2002 |
43 |
3530 |
| 2003 |
44 |
3556 |
| 2004 |
42 |
3675 |
| 2005 |
35 |
4674 |
| 2006 |
54 |
7215 |
| 2007 |
42 |
4577 |
| 2008 | 39 | 3743 |
|
|
Cruise Line |
|
Source |
| January 14 | Amsterdam Holland America Line |
The CDC reported on January 14th the following illness outbreak: The ship reported 8 of 610 (1.31%) crew and 56 of 1317 (4.25%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 21 day cruise ending December 23. | CDC |
| January 14 | Seven Seas Mariner Regent Seven Seas Cruies |
The CDC reported on January 14th the following illness outbreak: The ship reported 28 of 621 (4.51%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on an 18 day cruise ending December 20. | CDC |
| December 29 | Boudicca Fred Olsen Cruises |
Fred Olsen Cruises has released a statement saying: the current Christmas cruise on board Boudicca has been affected by a gastro-enteritis type virus; and the decision has been taken to conclude this sailing one day early, on 4th January, to allow a most thorough deep cleaning of the vessel , including fumigation, between cruises. To ensure this task is as successful as possible it is also necessary to delay the departure of cruise D1001, Canary Islands, by 24hrs - now departing at 2000hrs, Wednesday 6th January. In effect this permits a three day deep clean exercise. 289 people reported ill on the cruise. | Cruise Line |
| December 22 | Boudicca Fred Olsen Cruises |
BBC reports 50 passengers have reported ill with norovirus on a four day mini cruise from Portsmouth to Zeebrugge and Amsterdam that departed December 18th. This is the second cruise in a row with an illness outbreak. | Media |
| December 18 | Boudicca Fred Olsen Cruises |
The Portsmouth News reports up to 300 passengers are believed to have been struck by norovirus, which causes sickness and diarrhea. The sick passengers were kept on board while they recovered. A passenger said, 'It was a very serious outbreak of the novovirus bug, which broke out about four or five days into the cruise after we had left Portsmouth. Some people, many of them quite elderly, have been very sick." The ship left Portsmouth on Sunday 6 December on a 12 day cruise, calling at Madeira, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lisbon. The BBC reports the number ill was 180 passengers and crew. | Media |
| December 15 | Summit Celebrity Cruises |
Posters at Cruise Critic ask: Anyone know how many people were ill with Gastro-intestinal illnesses, norovirus, food poisoning etc on board Summit's transatlantic sailing (November 28th)? Figures heard on board varied from 20 to 157. It'd be interesting to know the actual number. Another person says: Well according to the info we were given on the Solstice it was high enough to go to "Code Red". If that helps. Note: Code Red normally means 3% of passengers reported ill (more than 60). Given the ship had left from a non-U.S. port, the outbreak may not be reported to the CDC (unless its port of disembarkation is in the U.S. or it is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. within 15 days). | Media |
| November 5 | Independence of the Seas Royal Caribbean International |
The Huddersfield Examiner reports a couple is suing their travel agaent after contracting food poisoning while on aboard the ship. According to the article, the couple left Southampton in June for France, Portugal, Spain and Italy. During the first few nights they sent food back several times and also saw curdled milk and yoghurts in faulty chiller cabinets. But it was two days before the end of their two-week holiday when they were hit by severe diarrhoea, fever and headaches. Mr Wormald became so ill he lost 10.5lbs in weight ... Tests showed the couple had both contracted campylobacter – a common form of food poisoning which was treated with antibiotics. | Media |
| October 30 | Norwegian Spirit Norwegian Cruise Line |
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. | CDC |
| October 22 | Noordam Holland America Line |
Gibraltar News from Panorama reports the ship sailed into Gibraltar yesterday with food poisoning onboard. The bug caused a stir with some tour guides and coach drivers, as the word got round of what some were saying was an outbreak of gastro-enteritis. A number of drivers/guides refused to work given the nature of the outbreak. What is regarded as surprising is that passengers were allowed to come ashore, when in other ports it is sometimes the case that passengers are barred to avoid the spread of a bug onboard the ship. Questioned by PANORAMA, ship agents Turner & Co confirmed that there had been "some food poisoning onboard, but contained, and confined to one part of the ship." UPDATE: The CDC reports 19 of 784 (2.42%) crew and 159 of 1826 (8.71%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 15 day cruise ending November 1 in Ft. Lauderdale. | Media/ CDC |
| October 18 | Boudicca Fred Olsen Cruises |
The Daily Mail reports sixteen passengers on a Mediterranean cruise have been confined to their cabins after their ship was hit by the norovirus sickness bug. They were isolated after the ship left Venice yesterday with 850 passengers on board. The outbreak appeared to start last week when the ship’s doctor confined himself to his own quarters, suspecting he had the highly contagious bug which causes sickness and diarrhoea.Update: Travel Weekly reports 57 passengers out of the 1,140 onboard Boudicca have so far been affected by gastroenteritis-like symptoms. Twenty-seven passengers remain in isolation, including six who are under observation. The ship, which is on a 21-night cruise of the Adriatic, departed Portsmouth on October 5 and is due to end in Portsmouth October 26. | Media |
| September 9 | Balmoral Fred Olsen Cruises |
STV reports seventy-two passengers have been struck down by an outbreak of norovirus. The Balmoral is currently anchored off Portree, Skye – with severe gales preventing it from berthing in the harbour. The liner departed Invergordon on Monday night with a reported 18 cases of the bug among its 1,280 passengers and 516 crew. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines have confirmed that those affected with the virus have been confined to their cabins. The Press and Journal puts the number of ill passengers at 78; other sources indicate 2 crew members have reported ill. UPDATE September 14: TTGLive reports the current cruise arrived in Dover a day early so the ship could undergo deep cleaning in advance of the next cruise - a 12 day cruise of the Baltic. The number of passengers ill is reported to have been about 100. | Media |
| July 31 | Voyager of the Seas Royal Caribbean International |
Reuters reports that 60 crew members were diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, and 70 more crew members showed signs of the disease. This is approximately 10% of the onboard crew. UPDATE: Press Association reports the crew members and two passengers who were suspected of having swine flu have tested negative for the virus. RCCL said 62 crew members and two passengers on the ship were immediately isolated after coming down with cold and flu-like symptoms. It said: "All crew members and the guests with symptoms tested negative for Influenza A but will remain in isolation until they are symptom free." The information contradicted comments by Alpes-Maritime regional spokeswoman Geraldine Soulier, who said about 60 crew members had been diagnosed with swine flu and confined to their cabins while the ship was in the French port of Villefranche-sur-Mer. She said 70 others were also suspected of having the illness and isolated. Ms Soulier said regional authorities had been informed of the diagnosis by Spain's health authorities. The 60 had been diagnosed with the A-H1N1 virus upon boarding the ship in Barcelona, Spain, on July 26 and immediately placed in isolation. She said she had no information to indicate that the Spanish authorities' diagnosis was incorrect. UPDATE August 1: AFP (France) reports when the ship arrived in Mraseille at 7:00 AM local authorities initially barred passengers from going ashore, but after a team of medics carried out an enquiry on board, the majority of passengers were given permission to disembark. Local official Philip Ramon said authorisation to go ashore had been given because the risk was deemed "extremely marginal." Only one passenger, whose nationality was not given, was confirmed to have had swine flu and had now fully recovered, he said. About 150 people remained on board in isolation, he added. These included 62 members of the crew, who had presented symptoms of A(H1N1) flu, and another 60 people who had been in contact with them, five passengers and around 15 other passengers who had been in contact with them. | Swine flu |
| July 23 | Thomson
Spirit Thomson Cruises |
The Journal (UK)
reports hundreds of passengers were afflicted with norovirus on a
cruise in early May. A couple onboard are launching legal action after
their holiday descended into chaos when the vomiting bug swept through
the ship.
Passengers had their boarding cards cancelled in a bid to contain the outbreak
during the cruise in May. According to a passenger,
“Hundreds of people were affected – the medical centre was inundated
with people queuing for medical supplies and a large number of people
were also confined to their cabins. It was absolutely horrendous. There was certainly a breakdown in hygiene standards. The ship in
general was not clean, hot food at the buffet was cold, there were
flies all over the food, toilets were not cleaned – the list was
endless.” |
Media |
| July 6 | Marco Polo Transocean Cruises |
BBC reports one man has died and 150 people have been taken ill from (it appears) norovirus on board the ship, which is berthed at Invergordon in Easter Ross (Scotland). NHS Highland said tests were under way to establish that the outbreak was caused by norovirus. The cruise line issued a statement that the man's death was not the result of norovirus. UPDATE July 7: The Daily Mail today reports 380 people (340 passengers, 40 crew) have reported ill (the ship has onboard 749 passengers and 340 crew) and that five have been treated in hospital. The present cruise, which began July 4, was terminated July 7 because of the outbreak. The Herald reports July 9 that there had been an illness outbreak on the previous cruise to Iceland (31 passengers; 2 crew). The ship's master faces possible legal action because the illness outbreak had not been reported when the ship disembarked/embarked passengers in London on July 4. | Media |
| June 16 | Diamond Princess Princess Cruises |
News 8 reports norovirus has caused several people to not be allowed to leave their rooms for fear of spreading the virus. One passengers says the captain told them the highly contagious stomach illness norovirus is on board and people are cleaning the ship, hoping it will get better. She says, the group was told hundreds of people had norovirus. She says most people are being served food in their rooms to prevent others from getting sick at the buffet. Princess Cruises released a statement saying, "We have a small number of passengers with symptoms of norovirus -- nothing unusual or escalated." They also say people who are sick have been asked to stay in their rooms. Last fall, sources say 400 British passengers were quarantined in China after norovirus spread aboard the Diamond Princess. | Media |
| June 16 | Oriana P&O Cruises |
From a passenger: More cases of novovirus on oriana on cruise starting after previous cruise with 50 confirmed cases (see May 31 below). New passengers were not informed of outbreak before sailing on June 1st. When returned to Southampton on June 15th outbreak still ongoing. | PAX |
| June 13 | Millennium Celebrity Cruises |
From a passenger: My wife and I were on the cruise from Seward AK to Vancouver BC and I experienced Norovirus. Was terribly sick for 24 hours; ships doc arrived 13 hours after my request to see him. Was isolated for a second day, as well as my wife to ensure she did not have it. Celebrity seemed to respond very well, requiring staff to dispense water, juices, coffee, etc., and even removing salt/pepper shakers from tables. Those who were isolated were asked to gather at special place on ship to disembark in advance of all other passengers (as required by Canadian health authorities, or so we were told). 40 of us were in that group (including spouses/travel companions who may not have contracted the virus, so at least 20 of the ~2000 passengers had been infected). Celebrity compensated us for our "lost days" (2 for me; 1 for my wife) - total of $1,200, which, as I am told, is far more than most cruiselines would do. | PAX |
| May 31 |
Oriana |
Posters at P&O Cruises Community indicate there is a norovirus outbreak on the current cruise. Passengers were first notified on Friday (May 29) -- one passenger writes: We have just sailed away from Madeira and the Captain has annouced it is with regret that we have a norovirus outbreak onboard. All usual emergency procedures are now in place, anyone else coming down with it to ring 999 switchboard and stay in cabin, no self service allowed, so waiters will serve our food by tongs from now on, and a reminder to wash hands for 20 seconds when using the loo etc. Another writes today: We have not been told how many people have noro onboard, but it is enough to put out emergency procedures onboard, so enough to declare publicly we have a problem. There were 2 new cases yesterday and 2 more today the Captain said in his announcement at 12.15pm , 1/2 hr ago. On June 1, a passenger says there were 50 confirmed cases. | Blog |
| May 30 | Amsterdam Holland America Line |
The ship reported 8 of 587 (1.37%) crew and 101 of 1546 (6.53%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 7 day cruise ending today. | CDC |
| May 27 | Coral Princess Princess Cruises |
The Anchorage Daily News reports a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on Sunday sickened 108 of its 2,000 passengers and seven crew members. The ship arrived in Whittier on Monday shortly after noon and was scrubbed down before taking on a new load of passengers that evening. The CDC subsequently reported 121 of 2001 (6.05) passengers and 7 0f 914 (0.77%) crew report ill. From a passenger: The first shipboard announcement was on the 23rd. Announcements suggested people use the toilets in their cabins, and to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. Only change to shipboard routine we saw was at the buffet line: waiters served food to each person as they walked by, rather than allowing people to take their own food. Routines in the regular dining rooms remained unchanged. A man in the cabin next to us said his wife was quarantined to her cabin and would disembark through a different route than the other passengers. | Media/ CDC |
| May 20 | Sea Princess Princess Cruises |
Grimsby Telegraph reports a norovirus outbreak on a cruise ending in Montego Bay (thus it will not be reported to the CDC). According to the newspaper, the day the cruise was to end the captain announced there was an outbreak of Norovirus, An elderly couple celebrating their golden wedding anniversary were struck with the illness and moved by the cruise line to the Altamont Hotel in Montego Bay, decribed by the husband as "cheap and small, situated on the Hip Strip, with police patrolling up and down the promenade in pairs." They say they were not allowed to leave the hotel for 48 hours, and claim to have received no information from the Princess Cruises, which organised the trip. Eventually, 10 more couples who were affected by the outbreak joined the pair in the hotel. Princess Cruises confirmed the norovirus outbreak. | Media |
| May 6 | Island Princess Princess Cruises |
The ship reported 7 of 894 (0.56%) crew and 100 of 1954 (5.12%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 14 day cruise ending May 7. Illness caused by Shigella sonnei and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) | CDC |
| April 29 | Carnival Liberty Carnival Cruise Lines |
The ship reported 57 of 1163 (4.9%) crew and 208 of 3253 (6.39%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 7 day Caribbean cruise ending in Miami April 25. | CDC |
| April 23 | Amsterdam Holland America Line |
The ship reported 19 of 600 (3.17%) crew and 119 of 1318 (9.03%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 22 day Panama Canal cruise ending in Vancouver April 24. UPDATE April 28: CDC has revised the numbers to 25 crew (4.17%) and 135 passengers (10.24%). The cause of the illness is Cyclospora cayetanensis. | CDC |
| April 12 | Freedom of the Seas Royal Caribbean International |
From a passenger: The cruise running March 29 to April 5 had 100 cabins hits with norovirus outbreak. I was on next sailing starting April 5 which had "code red" situation. Lasted first 3 days. Extensive cleaning, sanitizing etc. Seem to have worked. Didn't hear about any new cases. Breathing bleach, chlorine and purel all day can't be to healthy. | PAX |
| March 24 | Westerdam Holland America Line |
From a passenger: We just
returned from a seven day cruise on the Holland Westerdam, March 15
thru March 22 2009. When we boarded the ship, we noticed that the crew
was passing out the anti bacterial liquid on every floor. Three days in
the cruise we noticed the employees were thinner than normal. Five days
and the Captain of the ship announced that there was indeed some sick
crew and passengers and they were trying to contain the GI Virus. We
could not even get our own coffee or sugar. No salt and pepper shakers
on table. It was a terrible cruise. I would not recommend it to anyone. |
PAX |
| March 20 | Island Princess Princess Cruises |
From a passenger: A friend and I are currently on the 10-day Panama cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and suspect a norovirus outbreak. As of yesterday, passengers are not allowed to serve themselves in the buffet and dinner rolls in the restaurants are served by waiters, not in baskets where passengers help themselves. Staff are everywhere with antiseptic spray, wiping down everything all day long. | PAX |
| March 19 | Queen Mary 2 Cunard Line |
From a passenger: We are currently on the QM2 World Cruise and the ship is in semi-lockdown with Norovirus. no idea of the numbers but the crew are going all out to contain it. | PAX |
| March 12 | Mercury Celebrity Cruises |
The ship reported 4 of 834 (0.48%) crew and 93 of 1862 (5.0%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 16 day circle cruise to Hawaii from San Diego. The cruise began February 28 and ends March 15. UPDATE March 13: CDC has revised the numbers to 6 crew (.72%) and 113 passengers (6.1%). | CDC |
| March 2 |
Azamara Quest Azamara Cruises |
From a reader:
Reported from the ship's Hong Kong to Beijing leg: Passengers did not
board Quest in Hong Kong yesterday until 6.00pm because the ship was
being cleaned from top to bottom due to norovirus. They were taken to
Disneyland for the afternoon. Their luggage wasn't delivered until
8.30pm. |
PAX |
| February 27 |
Oosterdam Holland America Line |
KFMB-TV
in San Diego reports 84 passengers have reported ill with
gastrointestinal illness, likely caused by norovirus. The ship returns
to San Diego tomorrow and acccording to the cruise line will be
sanitized. Update March 2: eFluxMedia
reports
the numbers are now 106 passengers and 4 crew reporting ill. NOTE: Is it a coincidence that this
cruise began the day after the Zaandam cruise (below) ended or is it
possible a crew member from Zaandam brought the illness with him/her
onto Oosterdam? UPDATE: CDC
reports the numbers ill at 110 of 1840 (5.98%) passengers and 10 of 786
(1.27%) crewmembers. |
Media -- CDC |
| February 15 |
Zaandam Holland America Line |
From a reader: My mother and her husband are sailing
aboard Holland America’s Zaandam, which departed San Diego for Hawaii
on February 5. Several days ago, she called, saying passengers were
reporting bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. Sick passengers were being
isolated in their rooms for 36-48 hours. According to her, self-serve
buffets had been converted to staff-served and regular cleaning crews
had been replaced with special personnel. Extra hand sanitizer had been
placed in her room. Tonight, she called again, saying she and her
husband had been sick with diarrhea, vomiting, fever and a neck rash
for four days. UPDATE:
The
CDC reports 21 of 590
(3.6%) crew and 74 of 1408 (5.3) passengers have reported ill. The
cruise ends in San Diego on February 20. |
PAX |
| February 11 |
Coral Princess Princess Cruises |
The ship reported 10 of 885 (1.13%) crew and 164 of 1996 (8.22%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 10 day Caribbean/Panama Canal cruise (Fort Lauderdale return) that February 3 and ends February 13. UPDATE February 13: Numbers have been revised to 19 of 885 (2.1%) crew and 252 of 1996 (12.6%) passengers. | CDC |
| February 6 |
Balmoral Fred Olsen Cruises |
The Daily
Express and BBC
reports more than 230 people (about 13%) on board an 18-day cruise
of the Canary Islands and west Africa have been taken ill after an
outbreak of norovirus on their ship. About 50 passengers remain
confined to their cabins by the bug. The cruise operator said the liner
was refused entry the Cape Verde Islands following the outbreak. The
ship was now heading for the Canary Islands. |
Media |
| January 26 |
Sinfonia MSC Cruises |
O
Globo reports the cruise following the outbreak reported January 8
(below) had 46 passengers (approximately 3%) report ill. That was on a
cruise between Rio and Buenos Aires. |
Media |
| January 24 | Pride of America NCL America |
Snooper News Blogspot reports the NCL reported a norovirus outbreak on a cruise in Hawaiian Waters: more than 67 of the 1,837 passengers aboard the "Pride of America" between January 17th and the 24th were stricken by the virus. In addition, 14 employees reported ill. | Media |
| January 19 |
Tahitian Princess Princess Cruises |
A blogger
onboard reports: At approx 4.30pm
there was an announcement by the Captain over the speaker system on the
ship, broadcasting not only in the public areas but also into the
cabins (this indicated something of great importance) to say that there
had been an outbreak of the 'Norwalk Virus' on board and that a number
of people had been confined to their cabins and the remainder of us
should take extra care with hand washing etc., in order to eradicate
the problem. NOTE:
Because the ship is cruising to South America, the number of passengers
becoming ill will not be reported to or by the Centres for Disease
Control. However, it has been reported that 86 passengers were ill. |
PAX |
| January 9 | Orchestra MSC Cruises |
Passengers on the Jam Cruise (see http://jamcruise.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8925) report an outbreak of an influenza-type illness that affect hundreds of passengers. The CDC investigated the outbreak, but because it wasn't a gastro intestinal illness it was not reported at their web site. | PAX |
| January 9 |
Maasdam Holland America Line |
From a Passenger: There
was an outbreak of what the cruise ship's medical staff was diagnosing
as a gastrointestinal virus on the January 2-9, 2009 sailing.
Five of our family's seven members on board, in
three seperate cabins, were affected and spent multiple days in
isolation. I was told by my treating nurse that he was brought over
from the Noordam to assist due to the number of sick passengers. I have
not seen any reports of this anywhere yet. The passenger also
said he was told that more than 60 passsengers had been treated for
gastrointestinal illness. |
PAX |
| January 9 |
Mercury Celebrity Cruises |
The ship reported 3 of 859 (0.3%) crew and 86 of 1842 (4.7%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a 14 day Panama Canal cruise (San Diego to Fort Lauderdale) that began January 3 and ends January 17. Update January 13: Numbers have been revised to 5 of 859 (0.6%) crew and 127 of 1842 (6.9%) passengers. Update January 17: Numbers have been revised to 7 of 859 (0.8%) crew and 145 of 1842 (7.9%) passengers. Further updates will be posted as they are available. | CDC |
| January 8 |
Sinfonia MSC Cruises |
The Associated
Press reports that more than 340 passengers were stricken with
severe vomiting and diarrhea. The Brazilian National Agency for
Sanitary Vigilance said in a statement that an inspection found
problems with the amount of chlorine in the ship's drinking water and
with the storage of some perishable food items, notably mayonnaise. But
officials said they would not know what caused the illness until they
wrap up their investigation. The health agency said the outbreak was
under control, and the victims were being interviewed and treated on
board the ship. Most fell ill on Monday and Tuesday. UPDATE: O
Globo reports the illness outbreak affected 380 people and is
attributed to norovirus. Estadao
reports: The analysis of
water was negative for all
viruses and bacteria. In the analysis of food, were found traces of the
bacterium Escherichia coli (known as E.coli) in samples of raw meat. |
Media |
| January 8 | M/V Explorer | The ship reported 9 (3.95%) crew and 25 (3.40%) passengers had reported ill with gastrointestinal illness on a circle ending to0day in Fort Luaderdale. | CDC |