Updated
Updated · NBC Bay Area · Jul 3
Ruby Princess Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 125 on 20-Day San Francisco Voyage
Updated
Updated · NBC Bay Area · Jul 3

Ruby Princess Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 125 on 20-Day San Francisco Voyage

3 articles · Updated · NBC Bay Area · Jul 3

Summary

  • 125 people — 102 passengers and 23 crew — were infected with norovirus aboard Princess Cruises' Ruby Princess during a 20-day round trip from San Francisco to Canada and Alaska, the CDC said after the ship docked Thursday.
  • The CDC said the outbreak was reported Saturday and involved 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew overall; not all infected people were sick at the same time or when the ship arrived or departed.
  • Princess Cruises said the crew imposed enhanced sanitation protocols during the voyage and planned a thorough cleaning and disinfection before the ship's next departure later Thursday.
  • Seven cruise-ship illness outbreaks have been reported this year in the CDC's jurisdiction, mostly norovirus, which spreads easily through food, shared surfaces and close contact in crowded settings.

Insights

When a virus sweeps through a cruise ship, what legal responsibility does the company have for its sick passengers?
Cruise ships cause only 1% of norovirus outbreaks, so why do they capture so much public fear and media attention?
Are advanced disinfection technologies truly making cruises safer, or is it just a marketing strategy to restore passenger confidence?