The Crown Princess, a cruise ship operated by Princess Cruise Lines, has returned to Port Everglades, Florida for the second time in a week due to another outbreak of Norovirus. Norovirus is a common cruise ship illness. The disease spreads more easily among large groups in concentrated areas, like found in a cruise ship.
The disease is passed by contact with infected people, items they touch, such as food in buffets, and human waste. Most cruise lines have hand sanitizer stations aboard, and regularly urge passengers to use them.
On the current voyage, nearly 60 crew members and 114 passengers reported illness. Last weekend the Crown Princess underwent specialized cleaning for this sailing after nearly 400 people became sick.
The new outbreak caused the ship to return to Port Everglades Thursday morning, two days early, for an extensive two-day cleaning.
The following is an expert from the statement from Princess Cruise Line officials:
“The enhanced disinfection of the ship in Fort Lauderdale will include bringing aboard additional cleaning crew to assist with a thorough sanitization of all public spaces and surfaces including soft furnishing and carpets, railings, door handles and the like. The staterooms will be sanitized multiple times before making up the rooms with fresh linens and towels on Saturday morning, just prior to passenger embarkation.”
According to Princess Cruise Lines, the next scheduled cruise of the Crown Princess, set to leave on February 11, will leave on time.
Norovirus is passed by contact with infected people, items they touch, such as food in buffets, and human waste. Most cruise lines have hand sanitizer stations aboard, and regularly urge passengers to use them.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tracks cases of Norovirus and other illnesses on cruise ships through its Vessel Sanitation Program.
