Holland America cruise in Alaska hit by norovirus

KTOO ^ | June 22, 2018 | Jacob Resneck,

[BenLurkin]

Some 73 people reported falling ill on the Zaandam which is carrying more than 2,000 passengers and crew. Holland America released a statement Friday confirming that a number of passengers reported falling ill with a stomach virus on Monday. It said it activated a protocol to isolate ill passengers in their cabins. It also cleaned railings, door handles and other commonly touched surfaces to prevent the virus from spreading further.

The 781-foot Zaandam was docked in Juneau all day on Friday. It’s scheduled to depart at 10 p.m. and is headed to a number of Alaska ports including Hoonah, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak and Sitka before it returns to Seattle on July 2.

It’s the sixth reported norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship this year and the second in Alaska, according to the CDC. The 610-foot Silver Shadow reported 36 people fell ill during a May voyage that included Dutch Harbor, Kodiak and Homer.

[Jmouse007]

Cruise ships = floating petri dish. “Welcome aboard!”

[Wuli]

I guess I have been lucky with what little ocean cruise experience I’ve had.

[entropy12]

I get hit with noro-virus almost every month, since I eat in restaurants a lot, like 3-4 times every week. But I never make it to the news. I guess scattered sample of restaurant goers is just that...scattered. The cruise ship is 2000 people all jumbled together, and 73 getting sick makes the news.

[entropy12]

I have been on 30 cruises, never got sick. But eating in restaurants 12-15 times in a month hits me with diarrhea almost every month.

[bk1000]

Without fail, every time I start to think a cruise might sound like fun...

[KC_Lion]

Alaska Ping

[TADSLOS]

Ho hum. It’s cruise season. Cruise lines are required by public health laws to report norovirus cases aboard their ships. Land based hotels, public and private schools, restaurants etc...are not.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

1. MesoSilver
2. Grapefruit seed extract

Knock out bacteria and viruses.

Always in our travel kit.

Have used them on three continents when needed.

[zerosix]

Never fear going on a cruise (with a reputable line - Celebrity is my fav)!

I have been on three in the last five years.

Various lines are going somewhere 12 months every year.

My first experience was with Celebrity as they had the largest inside rooms because that was all I could afford.

Many cruises offer classed during non-port days. One was on digital photography and working your on pictures in Photoshop!

I loved the experience and always bring my laptop to work on my pictures in my downtime!

PS: I’ve never been sick on a cruise but did experience a blocked eardrum that began from congestion before cruising. Cruise Doctor was great and fixed my problem in two visits while on board.

[Wuli]

I had a reaction to “fresh squeezed” orange juice at restaurants EVERY time, so I quit takinng it when offered. I think it may be that in restaurants the “fresh squeezed” orange juice was only “fresh” when someone made a big batch of it. After that it may not have been kept chilled, kept chilled enough or kept too long. Can’t trust, won’t do it.

I too have never gotten sick on cruises, but i always drank bottled water, never water any other way. I didn’t even take beverages with ice in them - cold yes but not with ice. I also avoided the salad bar. Cooked vegetables yes, but not salads. I sometimes had salads at restaurants at port stops, but not on the ship. Eggs? Scrambled. I will do sunny side up at home and at a local diner at home, not on the cruise ships. Meat? Bacon, sausage, ham, taylor ham O.K. Meats at dinner - cooked to nothing less than medium.

So, for me, I do make some rules for eating on cruise ships. I don’t know if I would have been O.K. without them, but I’m not willing to try.

[Leaning Right]

> I get hit with noro-virus almost every month, since I eat in restaurants a lot <

Wow. I suppose it would be difficult to tell, but where does the problem seem to be the greatest? (in fast-food places, mom-and-pop roadside diners, hotel restaurants, etc.?)

[LostInBayport]

This is why I have never done the cruise ship thing, even though it must be a great way to see places.

I don’t think a ship full of people trapped in the bathroom with diarrhea is what they had in mind in those old Kathie Lee commercials with her singing “If They Could See Me Now”

[grimalkin]

I got this once after a layover at CVG. It was like a powerful, condensed version of the flu minus the fever and achiness. Fortunately, I didn't start getting symptoms until I was in my hotel room. No idea what I would have done if I were in a public place other than end up in the hospital for 24 hours. Afterward, I was dehydrated, weak, and hungry. I hit up one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in San Bernadino and ate myself into a coma.

Anyhow, I would never go on a cruise for a number of reasons that would take too much time to list here.

[alexander_busek]

1. MesoSilver 2. Grapefruit seed extract Knock out bacteria and viruses. Always in our travel kit. Have used them on three continents when needed.

Yeah, but that must get pretty monotonous, eating nothing but MesoSilver and grapefruit seed extract every day - while everyone around you is gorging themselves on prawns, smoked salmon, filet mignon, etc.

Regards,

[texas booster]

Who is your supplier?

I travel extensively but thankfully seldom get sick.

[2nd Amendment]

Just got back from a Royal Carib 7 day cruise to Alaska. Incredible service and no norovirus! Would go back in a heartbeat!

[Hot Tabasco]

Cruise Doctor was great

Did you have to pay or are doctor's services provided free?

[Lurker]

The last cruise we took the “washy washy” girls were everywhere.

You couldn’t escape them.

L

[Bonemaker]

Another yack yacht.