Nearly 230 People Fall Ill on Cruise Ship

[Janice]

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Nearly 230 people aboard a cruise ship fell ill with a gastrointestinal illness during a weeklong Caribbean voyage, the company said Saturday.

The illness, believed to be a norovirus brought onto the Mariner of the Seas by a passenger, struck 221 of the ship's 3,660 passengers and six of its 1,202 crew members, said Royal Caribbean spokesman Michael Sheehan.

Sick passengers started complaining of vomiting and diarrhea Wednesday and were treated with over-the-counter medication, he said.

Most would likely be recovered by the time the ship docked Sunday morning in Port Canaveral as scheduled, Sheehan said.

The cruise included ports of call in the Bahamas, Virgin Islands and St. Maarten.

This is the second outbreak aboard the Mariner of the Seas this year. In January, the ship reported a norovirus that sickened 276 passengers and 27 crew members.

Noroviruses affect about 23 million Americans annually, and 16 incidents of the illness have been reported on cruise ships so far this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld ... -headlines

[Miss Mary]

Outbreaks like this are the main reason I will not go on a cruise. No way. Now if I hadn't had colon surgery years ago and could eat or drink anything I wanted, then I'd go for it! I joke I'd have to be hooked up to an IV the whole trip! People tell me to risk it and I have trouble just visiting another state and drinking their tap water.

Also, that has to be awful, stuck in your cabin, sick on vacation! Those poor people.....

[Janice]

Oh, I knew I would see you here, haha. This doesn't stop or scare me. You only need one person to enter a hotel, restaurant, etc. to get it.

I am so sorry you have a problem with your health concerns in this area. There are still tons of great vacations ahead for you.

[Miss Mary]

Janice - yes there are! But on a cruise ship, I'd really be taking a major chance. People say oh just don't drink the water but then I couldn't eat salads, fresh fruit b/c they've been rinsed with the water. I couldn't have a beverage with ice, I'd have to drink bottled water. This list goes on and on. I know I'd see the most delicious entress on buffet tables and be dying, b/c I couldn't eat them. The easiest answer is just not go on one. Possibly a much smaller cruise line would be better. But overall, I'm happier on land anyway! The main problem I'v heard is bacteria can build inside water lines on cruise ships. They just can't disinfect the entire plumbing system. Same with airplanes.

[zoeyann]

I have had this virus and have never been on a cruise. It is pretty contagious, and a few years ago it made it round of my daughter's school. This was by far the worst virus I have ever had in my life I can not imagine actually having it on the sea. It hit my daughter suddenly and then me the worst lasts about a day, but it takes another week to recover.

[TexasStooge]

Oh, great! What kind of virus is ruining everyone's vacations?

[Stephanie]

Stooge - it's the norovirus - the same virus that has plagued many a cruise ship for years.

I don't blame you for not wanting to go Miss Mary due to your surgery. That's the LAST thing that you need!