Virgin Voyages warns passengers after cruise ship falls ill

Virgin Voyages reports apparent gastroenteritis or norovirus outbreak on board ship scarlet lady, dozens of passengers fell ill. Guests on subsequent cruises warned of the situation.

Appropriate actions have been taken to mitigate the spread of the disease and the cruise line has notified the appropriate authorities of the outbreak.

Stomach flu symptoms scarlet lady

Virgin Voyage flagship’s latest voyage, scarlet lady, affected by an outbreak of illness with stomach flu-like symptoms. These symptoms typically include nausea, diarrhea, pain, cramping, and low-grade fever, often indicating viral gastroenteritis or norovirus.

In a statement provided to Cruise Hive, the cruise line is aware of the outbreak and confirmed that the ship’s next sailing, departing on Friday, October 13, 2023, has not been affected.

“On Scarlet Lady’s latest voyage, approximately 3% of passengers developed stomach flu symptoms. Our medical team isolated these passengers and we immediately instituted enhanced disinfection procedures, including additional inspections of cabins and high-touch areas around the ship. clean.”

a spokesman for Virgin Cruises said. “We are working closely with the CDC and their medical professionals.”

The 110,000 gross tonnage cruise ship can accommodate 2,700 passengers. Overall, 3% of capacity indicates more than 80 guests reported symptoms, although specific numbers have not been released. Some crew members may also be affected.

Cruise lines are required to report an outbreak to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when 2% or more of the passengers or crew members on the cruise ship have a gastrointestinal illness while in the United States or within 15 days of arrival. If more than 3% of passengers or crew report symptoms, a report must be made to CDC even if the ship will not arrive at a U.S. port for more than 15 days.

This is the first outbreak on a Virgin Voyages ship in 2023 that requires reporting to the CDC. Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and other cruise lines have similar reports this year.

To be clear, this outbreak was confirmed to be a gastrointestinal illness (different types of gastrointestinal illnesses are relatively common on cruise ships), not COVID-19 or any type of respiratory illness.

Does not affect navigation

The cruise affected by the epidemic is a five-night Riviera Maya cruise ship. Miami, Florida Sunday, October 8th.Cruise ship visited Cozumel, Mexico and Bimini, Bahamas, with no impact on port stops or the ship’s return to Miami on Friday, October 13.

Likewise, the cruise line has confirmed there will be no changes to its next itinerary, with a five-night sailing departing on Friday visiting grand turk island Heading to Bimini on Sunday, October 15th and Tuesday, October 17th. The ship will return to Miami on Wednesday, October 18th.

“There is currently no impact on departure times or ports of call for upcoming sailings,” the statement read.

Passengers on the next voyage have been notified of the outbreak and will no doubt be encouraged to follow advice on thorough hand washing. Additional mitigation measures should also be noted, such as increased cleaning of cabins and common areas, increased placement of hand sanitizer, and possible changes to activities to minimize any spread of disease.

Also Read: Cruise Ship Sickness – How to Protect Yourself

Outbreaks of such illnesses, while infrequent, do occur with hundreds of passengers on cruise ships.

Guests can take several steps to protect themselves, such as avoiding high-touch surfaces where possible, including elevator buttons, handrails and utensils. Frequent hand washing and generous use of hand sanitizer can also help.

Avoiding overindulgence on board, staying hydrated and getting enough rest can also help guests fight off any illness.