What does it mean when your cruise ship is sick?

     When I was a television news reporter and anchor, the assignment desk would erupt in activity whenever they heard about a cruise ship coming back to port with sick passengers. I was the anchor who read the story or tossed to the reporter, who was live on the scene, telling us about a macab-sounding disease called, "Norovirus."

     It did sound pretty bad. In fact, I thought there was something dangerous about sailing on cruise ships after I heard about case after case. That was until I talked to doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and found out that Norovirus is nothing more than the stomach flu and it isn't a disease that people only get on cruise ships.

                                       That's a mugshot of the Norovirus. It's actually kind of pretty.

     "According to the Centers for Disease Control, "The common cold is the only illness more common, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta estimates that there are more than 20 million cases of Norovirus annually."
     I have been on more than 70 cruises in my life and I have never gotten sick. I did get seasick once on a small boat in Miami but I have never contracted Norovirus or any other disease while I was on a cruise ship. I have gotten sick more often flying on a plane. More people get sick flying on planes every year compared to people who cruise. Less people cruise, of course, which makes the comparison a little unfair, but if anyone gets sick on a plane, should we all not fly?

                                             Sailing on that ship would make me toss my cookies.

     According to the braniacs at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, "Norovirus is a very contagious virus. You can get norovirus from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed (acute gastroenteritis). This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up."

    Okay, so you barf and get the runs. But, why do we hear about Norovirus all the time on cruise ships if it is not a cruise ship disease? Shouldn't we all be scared to go on cruises, since we can all end up in our staterooms barfing and pooping? The answer is no.

                                     Welcome aboard folks! Woops, sorry. That photo should be here.

     We hear about Norovirus on cruise ships all the time for two reasons. One is because news stations love to report the story. It is selacious and makes a good, "if it bleeds, it leads headline." The second and more important reason is cruise ships are one of the only hospitality industries that must report every sickness on a ship to the CDC.

     "The CDC tells me, ""the reason you hear about Norovirus on cruise ships is because they are required to report every incidence of gastrointestinal illness. Nowhere else in the public health system of the United States is Norovirus a reportable illness. Norovirus is not a 'cruise ship' illness, but an illness commonly seen in many settings throughout the United States."
     When you stay in a hotel, there may be several people who are suffering from the stomach flu. You wouldn't know about them because you probably won't see them. When someone gets sick in a hotel, they don't go downstairs to the front desk and ask to see the hotel doctor. Even if they do tell the front desk they are sick and they know they have the Norovirus, the hotel does not have to report it to any official organization, thus there are no records. On a cruise ship, there is a doctor, so sick passengers go to the medical office on the ship, they tell the doctor they are sick and the doctor has to notify the CDC that a passenger was treated for that illness.

                                                      Dr. Adam Bricker from the Love Boat

    The CDC says, "Anyone can be infected with norovirus and get sick. Also, you can have norovirus illness many times in your life. Norovirus illness can be serious, especially for young children and older adults."

     The people who cause Norovirus on cruise ships are usually sick before they get on. The reason other people get sick is becasue they haven't washed their hands properly, they are elderly or they have some sort of disease that compromises their immune system. I just came back from a cruise with my parents who are in their eighties. If anyone would be sensative to illnesses or the Norovirus, it would be my mom and dad. None of us got sick after 12 days at sea onboard the Celebrity Silhouette.
The point is, healthy people who wash their hands and eat their vegetables are unlikely to get sick on a cruise ship, even if there are people with Norovirus onboard. Thanks mom.

                                   My mom and dad on the ship. I don't see any Norovirus in this photo.

     Norovirus, just like the flu and, even a cold, is more dangerous to the elderly and small children. The smart people at the CDC say, "Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Each year, it causes about 21 million illnesses and contributes to about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths. Norovirus is also the most common cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the United States."

         By the way, while researching this story, I found out that scientists have discovered that re-usable grocery bags contribute to the spread of Norovirus. No more grocery shopping for me.

    You should also know that the CDC inspects all cruise ships that dock in the United States. It's part of their Vessel Sanitation Program. Cruise ships are scored, just like many restaurants are scored by health inspectors. You can see cruise ship inspection scores here. The Most Recent Cruise Ship Inspection Scores

     If you go to the link I just showed you, you will see that most cruise ships get health inspection scores in the 90's and even perfect scores. The Vessel Sanitation Program also monitors vessel cleanliness and there is no correlation between scores and outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness. In fact, Crown Princess, which was forced to end a cruise early in February 2012 to contain an outbreak, scored a 100 on its November 2011 inspection. The twice-yearly exam is notoriously thorough and challenging; 86 or above is considered passing.

                                            Purell landed the big deal. It's all you see on cruise ships.
     The doctors at the CDC say, this might even be an incredibly healthy time to sail, as cruise lines are developing proactive procedures to ensure that passengers on voyages, particularly throughout the winter season, don't get sick. If you cruise, you will see the staff cleaning everything all the time and you can't walk into a restaurant or dining area without have your hands sprayed with hand sanitizer.

                                       You have to sanitize your hands even after you just sanitized them.

     I think cruising is one of the best ways to travel. If you like to pay one price and see several destinations with all your meals included, it is one of the best all-inclusive vacations around. If you are nervous about getting Norovirus, then wrap yourself in a plastic bag wherever you go.  You have probably had it before and you are exposed to all the time. Thank God for our immune systems and Purell. If you ever have a question about cruising or travel or you want to share your stories, send me an email at joel@travelnewsanddeals.com. Happy travels everyone!