The last thing anyone wants to consider is falling ill while on a cruise. Unfortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 68 of the 2,264 passengers aboard Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Summit contracted norovirus on the May 24 voyage, in addition to five crew members.
According to Gangwaze, the 91,000 gross registered ton vessel was on a 7-night one-way Alaska cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia to Seward, Alaska, calling on Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, and Icy Strait Point.
The CDC's website states that the predominant symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting, resulting in heightened sanitation procedures, including isolating sick guests and crew members, staging the disembarkation process to limit the possibility of transmission, and the sanitation of the terminal.
Noroviruses are highly contagious and found in the feces or vomit of infected people. It can spread through the consumption of food touched by an infected individual, touching contaminated surfaces then one's mouth, or by placing contaminated objects on clean surfaces. Whether you're at home or on a cruise ship, it's important to thoroughly wash your hands after using the restroom!
While norovirus is the most frequent cause of outbreaks of diarrheal illnesses on ships, norovirus outbreaks only account for 1% of all reported outbreaks, so your chance of contracting the disease while onboard is low. In fact, you are more likely to catch the illness at a hospital school, or childcare center!
This marks the seventh reported outbreak onboard a cruise ship in 2024, with the first being on Celebrity Constellation in January
92 guests abroad Celebrity Constellation's January 3 sailing started off the New Year in an unforgettable way: contracting norovirus while on a 9-night Caribbean cruise. Additionally, 8 out of 948 crew members also fell ill.
Less than one month later, Cunard Line's Queen Victoria reported 129 guests, or roughly 7% of passengers onboard, had caught norovirus on the January 22 sailing.
Holland America Line's Koningsdam, as well as Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas, Princess Cruises' Sapphire Princess, and Silversea's Silver Nova, also reported sick passengers; however, the causative agent for the illness onboard Silver Nova was unknown. Norovirus was attributed to all six other outbreaks in 2024.
Stay on top of your hygiene practices and follow recommended protocols to stay healthy on your cruise
From exciting shore excursions to thrilling onboard activities and delicious dining options, you don't want to miss a moment of your highly-anticipated vacation because you do not feel well. Rather than take any chances, it is important to safeguard your health on vacation.
When navigating high-traffic areas, for instance, be mindful of the surfaces you're touching, from elevator buttons to tongs in the buffet. Though many cruise lines advocate hand washing before entering the buffet, doing so afterward is equally crucial. If you don't want to seek out hand sanitizer after sitting down, consider keeping a travel-sized bottle in your bag!
Hand washing, however, is more effective in helping prevent the spread of illnesses. Dr. Sarah E. Hochman, a hospital epidemiologist and the section chief of infectious diseases at New York University's Langone Health’s Tisch Hospital, asserts that alcohol-based hand sanitizer isn't as effective against norovirus, so taking time to wash your hands with soap and warm water is paramount.
Other ways to boost your immune system include drinking plenty of water, limiting alcohol consumption, refraining from smoking, getting adequate sleep, and exercising regularly.
Though it's unlikely that you will need any medical treatment for norovirus, purchasing travel insurance for your upcoming cruise is a wise decision
In 2022, Vincent Wasney and his fiancée, Sarah Eberlein, had to pay over $2,500 in medical bills after sailing on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas because of a series of seizures that required treatment onboard.
According to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Ticket Contract, all passengers agree "to pay in full...all charges for entertainment, goods, and services incurred by [the] Guest, or incurred by [the] Carriet on Guest's behalf." The Contract further states that the "Guest shall pay for all medical care or other personal services requested or required, whether onboard or ashore...If [the] Guest is unable to pay and the Carrier pays for such expenses, then [the] Guest shall reimburse [the] Carrier for those expenses."
In other words, if you receive treatment onboard, you are responsible for paying for all the related expenses, which can add up quickly. As first reported by KFF Health News and NPR, Wasney and Eberlein spent $2,285.78 on Wasney's general ward admission and observation fee, $97.99 on the i-STAT blood test, $104.55 on out-of-facility services, and $11.90 on medication.
Whether you find yourself suffering from an illness onboard, are dealing with a sudden death in the family, or had an airline lose your luggage en route to its final destination, travel insurance does more than provide financial peace of mind for onboard medical services.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
