Cruise ship barred from docking amid outbreak of stomach illness

Table Of Content

• Can you get a COVID-19, flu or strep test on the ship?
• How can you stay healthy on a cruise?
• I've heard about people getting stomach bugs on cruises. How can I avoid that?
• Why are there so many cruise norovirus reports on the news?
• Norovirus Cases On Cruise Ships Skyrocket: Here’s Why—And How To Avoid Getting Sick
• Norovirus outbreaks 2023 reports

According to medical professionals, seasickness is more prevalent in children and women (though children under 2 seem to be immune from the ailment). Meanwhile, some people have a genuine proclivity for motion sickness and will undoubtedly suffer more during rough seas. Over the summer, a Viking cruise ship had a noro incident with 119 guests and crew, bringing the total to over 13%. If you'd like to check out the outbreak information, you can find a detailed list of ships that have had acute gastroenteritis outbreaks (many of which were caused by norovirus), listed by year, about halfway down the CDC's outbreak page. The sick guests “experienced mild symptoms of a stomach-related illness,” Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement Sunday.

Can you get a COVID-19, flu or strep test on the ship?

"In situations that require referral to shoreside hospitals, the shipboard treating doctors evaluate suitable options by medevac," a company spokesperson said. The medical staff on oceangoing vessels are trained to handle emergency situations such as a heart attack or stroke and they have defibrillators and other life-saving equipment on board in case of such emergencies. "While Azamara's onboard staff is available to help with any medical issues that arise, the medical facilities are not intended as clinics for guests," a spokesperson says.

How can you stay healthy on a cruise?

Chen isn’t aware of any outbreaks of the resistant varieties on cruise ships, but it’s something to monitor. Close living quarters, shared bathrooms, populated pools, busy buffet lines and rapid turnover of passengers make it difficult to control the spread of the virus once it hits a ship. “It’s just really the perfect scenario for transmission of highly contagious GI [gastrointestinal] pathogens,” Lucar says. Find more information about gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on land and at sea. Booking an outside cabin in the middle of the ship -- the natural balance point -- is another option.

I've heard about people getting stomach bugs on cruises. How can I avoid that?

Cruise ship medical centers carry a more extensive selection of over-the-counter and prescription medicine, though nothing like your local pharmacy or hospital. Again, fees for obtaining pills can be quite high, and you might not be reimbursed through your health or travel insurance when you return home and submit a claim. If you’re not prone to seasickness or motion sickness, following some basic tips on how not to get sick on a cruise should ensure you stay healthy while onboard.

Why are there so many cruise norovirus reports on the news?

Take any necessary vitamins and medications as prescribed, and stay hydrated to improve body function. These simple steps will keep your body healthier as your cruise approaches, and a healthy body is better able to resist disease infection even if exposed to the illness. Royal Caribbean Group's physicians and nurses are required to maintain Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training. "In responding to medical emergencies, our goal is to first stabilize emergency patients and, when necessary, evacuate the patient to an appropriately equipped and staffed shoreside medical facility," its website says.

CDC investigating gastrointestinal sickness on luxury cruise ship Queen Victoria - CBS San Francisco

CDC investigating gastrointestinal sickness on luxury cruise ship Queen Victoria.

Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Illnesses You Can Get on a Cruise Ship (Besides COVID)

In recent years, the CDC monitored COVID-19 outbreaks on cruise ships. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. MSC Cruises urges passengers to bring any required medications for their journey from home.

Relatively new mega-ship that weigh 100,000 tons or more have stabilizers which are used when needed to provide the smoothest ride possible. When applying the patch, be sure to clean the area of the skin thoroughly and clean your hands after application. Some substances from the patch may transfer onto your hands and cause more side effects. Available only by prescription, Transderm Scop is preventive and not a treatment that can also cause possible side effects such as dry mouth, blurry vision, drowsiness and dizziness.

And just FYI, if you’re sharing these things that germ experts wouldn’t share, you’re putting yourself at an increased risk of getting sick. Your insurance may or may not cover a full or partial refund if, for example, you’re denied boarding, quarantined in your cabin or have to leave the cruise partway through. That depends both on the reason for not being able to continue with your cruise and the type of insurance you’ve purchased. Dr. Spangler says that really depends on the size of the cruise ship as well as the type of injury. A cut needing a few stitches can usually be addressed on board, as can minor burns.

So keep your hands clean, keep your mind clear, always hope for the best. Bad, if meant to happen, will happen anyway, and nothing can change it. The cruise terminal and the near area were thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Some lines, like Azamara, offer COVID-19 testing without a medical consultation, while others, such as MSC Cruises and Holland America, do not offer walk-in testing.

Holland America's medical centers are staffed with a team of experienced physicians and nurses that can manage a broad range of conditions. All ocean-going ships have medical centers staffed with trained professionals, so medical care is accessible when you're on board the ship. The facilities and what they offer will vary, depending on the size of the ship and the number of passengers and crew. If you are violently seasick or can't seem to get your stomach to settle, you can visit the cruise ship's doctor, who might be able to prescribe a stronger anti-nausea medicine. Unfortunately, seasickness is not a reason to be medevac’d from a ship; if you feel you can't continue on your cruise, you leave the ship on your own dime and won't be refunded for missing days. Cruise Critic highly recommends all passengers bring seasickness medicine with them (like Dramamine or Bonine pills or prescription Scopolamine patches).

Cruise Etiquette: How to Not Get Sick on a Cruise - Condé Nast Traveler

Cruise Etiquette: How to Not Get Sick on a Cruise.

Posted: Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Cases of flu and RSV have declined from fall’s peak, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows, but the viruses that cause these two illnesses are still circulating in the U.S. and other parts of the globe. Some cruisers swear that applying a Sea-Band wristband the minute you embark can ward off unwelcome motion sickness. The easy-to-wear, acupressure-inspired product has a plastic bead that presses against the Nei-Kuan pressure point located on the palm side of the wrist.

This is one of the reasons to invest in travel insurance when you travel. Your regular health insurance policy may or may not cover you when you're traveling outside the country — or will only cover some but not all of your expenses. Some insurance plans, like Medicare, won't cover you outside the U.S. except for a few specific emergency circumstances. A travel insurance policy with good medical coverage can make up the difference or reimburse you for medical bills your regular insurance won't. Holland America also has established and well-practiced medical protocols surrounding treating seriously ill passengers.

However, antihistamines can interact with other medications and often cause drowsiness and decreased mental alertness, and the nonsedating ones appear to be less effective, the CDC says. Your doctor may also prescribe or recommend a patch that can help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness. Typically, the infection is treated with antibiotics, Chen says, but the CDC recently issued a warning that antibiotic-resistant strains are circulating in the U.S.

Everyone—including fellow passengers and crew—wants you to be healthy on your cruise. Here's how cruise ships prevent illnesses, and what happens if you do get sick or injured. Most large cruise ships are built with stabilizers to make the ride as smooth as possible. Even so, people who are prone to motion sickness can start to feel queasy onboard.

VSP inspectors board ships and conduct thorough checks to ensure compliance, and the standards are high. You can find a list of the most recent inspection scores and lists of violations for each ship on the VSP website. It’s expected that the ship will be allowed to dock Tuesday, the cruise line said, after results of tests conducted Sunday become available. Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more travel, cleaning, humor, tech and fun facts all week long. Generally, Zika is a mosquito-borne virus spread by Aedes aegypti (aka "yellow fever mosquito") and Aedes albopictus (aka "Asian tiger mosquito"). However, it became "cruise virus" since the decease can also result from intrauterine (contraceptive device), sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, lab exposure, organ/tissue transplantation, breast milk transmission.

Cruise lines aren't going to release their formularies, but they probably have prescription medications for the most common ailments such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and thyroid disease. According to a representative for MSC Cruises, you don't need an appointment to go to the onboard medical centers. We've also compiled general information from several lines with detailed information on their websites.