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Cruise Ship or Floating Petri Dish?

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GG Staff | 02/26/2008 - 10:16 | 3 comments

Mexican cruise succumbs to Norovirus

Six days into a cruise from San Diego to Mexico's Pacific Coast, more than 100 passengers on Holland America's Ryndam fell sick to the highly contagious norovirus. And we're not talking about the flu.

Norovirus causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and lasts 24-48 hours. Enough of a description to give you a mental image of what being on that ship must have been like?

Cruise Ship or Germ Trap?Cruise Ship or Germ Trap?As the virus gained momentum, passengers were asked to stay in their cabins and were compensated $100 a day for their troubles. The ship, which was carrying 1,226 passengers and 556 crew members visited several ports in Mexico's Sea of Cortez after leaving San Diego Feb. 15.

We're assuming passengers were invited to disembark and enjoy the ports, spend their money, spread their germs...

Norovirus on cruise ships isn't new, but this is the 4th suspected outbreak on the Ryndam since last year. After a thorough cleaning and disinfection, the Ryndam left San Diego again late yesterday for another 10-day cruise on Mexico's Pacific coast.

Holland America offered a refund to all 1,340 passengers if they were nervous about boarding a ship that was so recently infected.

Only one smart couple took their money and ran.

Would you board a ship that just experienced an outbreak of norovirus?

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Comments

I caught the norovirus on a

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 02/29/2008 - 00:56.
I caught the norovirus on a ship that had been 'disinfected' in Miami last year. I don't recall ever being so sick. It was awful. So, no I would NEVER get on a ship that had a recent history of norovirus. It appears to be a very difficult virus to get rid of and I bet it is still lurking on the Ryndam.

Having worked in the food

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 16:04.
Having worked in the food industry for many years.. trust me you are more likely to get sick at your favorite restaurant then on a cruise ship.. the difference being.. you all live/eat toghether for 7+days.. you eat in a restaurant and all go home and suffer by yourselves..

This is the stomach flu and

Submitted by thisworldtraveler (not verified) on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 15:18.
This is the stomach flu and it happens everywhere. You stand an equal chance of getting it at the restaurant or hotel of your choice. The only difference is that the people who get sick from it aren't all in the same place at the same time when they get sick.

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