More than 150 passengers and crew have fallen ill with norovirus on Princess Cruises’ Star Princess. The seven-day Caribbean cruise, carrying 4,307 people, is docked today at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after a nasty outbreak wreaked havoc onboard.
Norovirus Chaos on the High Seas
The highly contagious virus spread rapidly through the ship, with 104 passengers and 49 crew members struck down by vomiting and diarrhoea. Sick guests were isolated immediately to stop further infections, while the sanitation crew launched a deep clean blitz.
“We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitising throughout the voyage,” the cruise linesaid “We also separated anyone feeling unwell so they could rest comfortably in private – just an added precaution to help keep the rest of our guests and crew feeling their best.”
Star Princess Returns to Port
After setting sail from Fort Lauderdale on March 7, the Star Princess was forced to cut its journey short. Now back at Port Everglades, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is conducting an environmental assessment and collecting samples to get to the bottom of the outbreak.
Norovirus is infamous on cruise ships due to crowded conditions and the virus’s ability to live for days on surfaces like door handles and railings without strict sanitation.
Virus Hits Hard, But Crew Fight Back
- Passengers affected: 104
- Crew members sick: 49
- Total onboard: 4,307
- Symptoms: Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Action taken: Isolation and full disinfection
Princess Cruises has ramped up cleaning protocols and continues to monitor health onboard. The outbreak serves as a harsh reminder of how quickly viruses can spread when people are packed tightly at sea.
For now, passengers are urged to wash their hands regularly and follow crew instructions to stay safe.
