Norovirus Sickens Over 670 on Explorer of the Seas
Posted on January 28, 2014
A virus has sickened over 670 people on the Explorer of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. It appears that the virus was the dreaded norovirus as feared. The virus spreads rapidly and is not destroyed by alcohol. It causes uncontrolled vomiting and diarrhea. The norovirus is a worst case scenario for a cruise because of the tight living conditions and because passengers are stuck on the ship. It can spread rapidly on a cruise ship and infects hundreds of passengers in days. At least 672 passengers on the ship fell ill.
Cruise lines should always offer some sort of compensation for travelers who end up on a cruise ruined by the norovirus. USA Today reports that Royal Caribbean is offering passengers a 50% refund and 50% credit for a future cruise. The 10-day cruise was cut short and returned to New Jersey two days early because of the virus outbreak.
Cruise lines should also be pouring tons of money into research to stop the norovirus, which can turn a fun vacation into a nightmare. If a vaccine were to become available, cruise lines could give it to the crew, especially those involved with food prep. This would greatly curb the spread of the virus. Take a look:
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