Even after more than 100 passengers and crewmembers fell sick during a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, passenger Jan van Milligen said life on board still felt surprisingly normal.
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“The normal atmosphere is still here,” van Milligen, who has spent the last 21 days aboard the ship with relatives and friends from South Africa, told NBC News on Saturday. “We went to a show last night, had dinner and breakfast this morning.”
The outbreak sickened 102 of the ship’s 3,116 passengers and 13 crewmembers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The predominant symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea, and the agency cited norovirus as the cause.
The CDC said the outbreak was reported Thursday during the ship’s April 28 to May 11 voyage through the Caribbean.
As of Saturday afternoon, the vessel was located north of the Dominican Republic en route to Nassau in the Bahamas, according to CruiseMapper.
Princess Cruises said “a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness” during the voyage from Port Everglades in Florida.
“We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitizing throughout the voyage,” the company said in a statement. “Upon arrival to Port Canaveral on May 11, Caribbean Princess will undergo comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before departing for her next voyage.”
The cruise line said it implemented enhanced sanitation procedures, while the CDC said sick passengers and crewmembers were isolated and stool samples were collected for testing.
Van Milligen took notice of the stricter sanitation measures aboard.
“The cruise line made all precautions to stop the spread,” he said over email, adding that “they were very professional” and passengers were informed about the situation in a timely way.
Among the changes he noticed were passengers becoming more cautious about hygiene, including washing their hands more frequently. Passengers were also no longer allowed to serve themselves at the buffet, he said.
Another passenger onboard, Donna Leonte from Florida, said she boarded the vessel in Fort Lauderdale on April 28 with her husband and four friends to celebrate her 21st wedding anniversary.
“We are doing well. Safety precautions are in place but nothing deadly,” Leonte told NBC News on Saturday afternoon.
Said also noticed the enhanced sanitation efforts across the ship.
“Washing stations are manned so people do not pass them up and Purell sanitizers are everywhere,” she said.
She said passengers have continued participating in onboard activities despite the outbreak.
“People need to be mindful and take precautions. We are not missing any activities,” she said.
Like van Milligen, Leonte said the buffet operations had changed.
“The buffet is well-staffed and they are handing out dishes, utensils and food,” she said. “They’re doing an excellent job.”
Similar protocols were implemented in March after more than 150 people aboard another Princess Cruises ship touring the Caribbean also became sick with norovirus.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that commonly causes vomiting and diarrhea and can spread quickly in close quarters, including cruise ships, according to the CDC. Cruise lines are required to report outbreaks to the agency when at least 3% of passengers or crew report gastrointestinal symptoms.
