PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise liner, over 100 passengers have fallen ill due to Norovirus as the ship prepares to dock in Port Canaveral on Monday, May 11. Pavlina Osta, an investigative reporter with News 6, interviewed a passenger who revealed that despite the outbreak, many are still making the most of their vacation.
“When you’re mingling with others, it’s always wise to exercise caution. Gatherings can sometimes lead to unexpected events,” shared Donna Leonte, a passenger on the Princess Cruise.
Outbreak hits during 13-day Caribbean voyage
The Caribbean Princess set sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on April 28, embarking on a 13-day journey. The itinerary included stops in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Aruba, St. Maarten, Curacao, and Bonaire before Norovirus affected 102 travelers and 13 crew members, as confirmed by the CDC.
Leonte mentioned that the crew has been proactive in keeping passengers updated on the situation.
“They informed us about their continuous sanitation efforts, ensuring us that everything was being thoroughly cleaned. They also provided updates on any new cases,” Leonte explained.
What passengers are experiencing
The CDC reports that the primary symptoms observed during this outbreak include diarrhea and vomiting. Given Norovirus’s highly contagious nature, it can rapidly spread in environments where people are in close proximity.
Infected passengers were asked to stay in their rooms and quarantine. Leonte said those passengers “are being checked on by medical staff every day.”
According to the CDC, Princess Cruises and ship crew took the following actions after the outbreak began:
Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures per their outbreak prevention and response plan
Collected stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases for testing
Isolated ill passengers and crew
Consulted with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on sanitation procedures and reporting
“Princess Cruises can confirm that a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the April 28 Caribbean Princess voyage from Port Everglades. We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitizing throughout the voyage. Upon arrival to Port Canaveral on May 11, Caribbean Princess will undergo comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before departing for her next voyage,”
Negin Kamali, Princess Cruises
This outbreak is separate from the MV Hondius cruise ship incident, where three people have died from hantavirus — a virus primarily transmitted to humans from rodents.
