5 Common Illnesses You Can Get on a Cruise Ship

Table Of Content

• Norovirus on cruise ships
• How to prevent seasickness on cruise ships (tips)
• Outbreak Updates for International Cruise Ships
• C.D.C. Investigating Gastrointestinal Illness on Luxury Cruise Ship
• Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships surge to decade-high levels: How to avoid the stomach bug
• What are cruise ship medical facilities like?
• Illness outbreaks on cruise ships (annual statistics)

The predominant symptoms of the gastrointestinal illness include diarrhea and vomiting. The cause of the outbreak remains unknown, according to the CDC. Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread directly through sick people and contaminated surfaces, food, or drinks. The CDC logged 14 cruise ship outbreaks that met its threshold for public notification in 2023, more than any year between 2017 and 2019. Silversea notified guests and crew of the outbreak via announcements and encouraged them to report cases and practice “good hand hygiene,” the CDC said.

Norovirus on cruise ships

No one is going to call you out for sneezing or coughing in the check-in line for your cruise. But as a matter of course, all cruise lines require that boarding passengers fill out a health questionnaire that asks if you have been vomiting, running a fever or experiencing other symptoms of illness in the past week. In cases of severe emergencies, passengers with life-threatening illnesses or injuries are evacuated off the ship - either by boat (if in or near seaport) or by rescue helicopter dispatched from nearest coast guard or other station. In some cases, nearby ships with better medical facilities may assist. Some cruise lines offer hand-sanitizer dispensers near the ship's restaurants, Lido/pool deck areas and other more crowded public spaces in their effort to keep a lid on sickness outbreaks. Your key card will likely be deactivated while you’re under quarantine.

How to prevent seasickness on cruise ships (tips)

The sick guests “experienced mild symptoms of a stomach-related illness,” Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement Sunday. "Mercy Ships" is a charity accredited by Better Business Bureau. It operates hospital ships since 1978 and also has currently the world's largest hospital ship (excluding navy vessels) - MV Africa Mercy. Most hospital ships are navy vessels (operated by military forces) which are specifically built for use in war zones. Hospital ships are designated as floating medical facilities (hospitals). The most severe outbreaks were reported in Brazil, with an alarming surge in newborns with microcephaly.

Outbreak Updates for International Cruise Ships

Whenever you travel, you should bring a first-aid kit packed with these essentials so you have key products on hand whenever you need them. For a cruise, add seasickness medication (whether in tablet form like Bonine and Dramamine, or motion sickness patches). Many people find that anti-nausea acupressure wristbands work for them.

C.D.C. Investigating Gastrointestinal Illness on Luxury Cruise Ship

However, it’s wise to make a cruise packing list and travel with the medications or remedies that you know work for you, like Dramamine, Gravol or a motion sickness patch. Many people rely on sea sickness bracelets that activate a pressure point on the wrist. Measles, a highly contagious virus that can linger in the air even hours after an infected person leaves the room, was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, thanks to a successful vaccine program. But cases still pop up in the States, and the virus is common in many countries around the world.

Facts About Noroviruses on Cruise Ships

Many cruise-ship illnesses come onboard on embarkation day with each new crop of passengers. These days, most lines ask passengers to fill out forms indicating whether they've experienced certain symptoms in the past week. If you've been feeling under the weather, please answer these questions honestly. You will then meet with someone from the ship's medical team to determine the best course of action. It does not mean that you are automatically kicked off the cruise. After a lull during the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of the highly contagious virus that causes diarrhea and vomiting, aka stomach flu, spiked this winter and spring on land.

This protocol only confirms that the CDC knows everything about it. The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) requires cruise ships to log and report the number of passengers and crew who say they have symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. Learn more about illnesses and outbreaks reported to VSP and find information about outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships.

Not only will you use your muscles a bit every day, but you won't have to stand around waiting for an elevator. Another option is to take advantage of the promenade deck or outdoor jogging track to take a brisk walk. Also, if you eat at a slower pace, you will more thoroughly enjoy your food. There will always be more goodies to savor whenever you get hungry again. (And it's always good to have some antacids in your medicine bag, just in case you get carried away).

Illness outbreaks on cruise ships (annual statistics)

In 2014, Zika spread across the Pacific Ocean to French Polynesia, and soon to Easter Island. In 2015, Zika virus reached Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Cruise lines’ crew work hard to keep everything clean to minimize the spread of communicable diseases, but it’s up to you to be cautious as well. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about any medications you should pack, such as loperamide (Imodium) to help treat diarrhea or dimenhydrinate (Dramamine, Gravol) for nausea. If your immune system is compromised, your doctor may want to prescribe something ahead of your trip. Seasickness isn't contagious, but it can do just as much to derail your vacation as ailments that are.

CDC reviews cruise ship in S.F. after passengers, crew get stomach illness - San Francisco Chronicle

CDC reviews cruise ship in S.F. after passengers, crew get stomach illness.

Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

A staff member may ask you additional questions, and you might be sent for secondary screening by a doctor. Should they determine that your or anyone else’s health would be jeopardized, they may not let you board. This is one of the most well-known bugs that can foil fun on a ship. Norovirus — marked by diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain — is to blame for more than 90 percent of diarrheal disease outbreaks on cruises, according to the CDC. That said, norovirus outbreaks on ships account for only 1 percent of all such reported cases. Years before 2020 turned the world upside down, the cruise industry came under fire whenever ships reported outbreaks of norovirus, a common and highly contagious virus that causes gastrointestinal upset.

Depending on individual balance, our ability to adjust to motions varies, so not everyone experiences seasickness. Zika virus (aka ZIKV) is a Flavivirus - from the genus of the viruses named West Nile, dengue, tick-borne encephalitis, yellow fever. These plus several other viruses may cause encephalitis (acute brain inflammation). In humans, Zika virus causes the Zika fever which is known to occur only within some equatorial regions.

If you come down with COVID-19 while you’re on your cruise, you’ll likely be quarantined in your cabin. It’s important to prevent the spread, because it also affects the blood vessels, and one in 10 infections is causing long-term problems to the heart, circulatory system and brain. Before COVID-19, colds and other minor respiratory illnesses were not taken as seriously as they are now.

If you take the proper precautions, you can protect yourself against falling sick on your cruise vacation. The team will be based in an onboard medical center open during set hours and available 24 hours a day for emergencies. The center will be staffed by a doctor and nurse (or nurses) prepared to deal with issues ranging from seasickness to minor surgeries. Most large cruise ships are built with stabilizers to make the ride as smooth as possible. Even so, people who are prone to motion sickness can start to feel queasy onboard.

Yes, we just told you to drink a lot of water, but in some destinations -- like Mexico or Egypt -- it's not necessarily safe to drink local water. State Department's website (or the equivalent in your country of residence) for country-specific travel information; the "Health" section will mention any restrictions on drinking water. In these destinations, you will want to drink only beverages in sealed bottles to avoid getting sick. If you're especially prone to dehydration in hot weather, try a sports drink like Gatorade, which contains electrolytes. Alcohol can also dehydrate you, so if you plan to spend plenty of time in the onboard bars, make sure you swap your beer or cocktail for a glass of water every so often.