Alaskan Adventure Goes South: Cruise Ship Hit with Norovirus Outbreak

Picture this: you’re sailing through pristine Alaskan waters, surrounded by breathtaking glaciers and maybe even a whale or two. You’re living the dream, right? Well, that dream turned into a nightmare for dozens of passengers aboard the Celebrity Summit cruise ship in early June of this year. Yup, you guessed it – the dreaded norovirus struck again.

A Not-So-Exclusive Floating Club

Seventy-three souls aboard the Celebrity Summit found themselves part of an exclusive club that no one wants to join – the “I got sick on my cruise” club. Sixty-eight passengers and five crew members were hit with the oh-so-pleasant symptoms of norovirus, which we’ll delve into a bit later (spoiler alert: think bathroom woes).

The Celebrity Summit, a vessel designed to carry over two thousand passengers, embarked on its journey from Vancouver, British Columbia on May twenty-fourth. With stops planned in charming Alaskan towns like Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau, plus the promise of witnessing the majesty of the Icy Strait Point, the trip promised adventure and awe. Instead, it delivered a hefty dose of unpleasantness, thanks to the unwelcome guest – norovirus.

This Year’s Unofficial Cruise Ship Guest: Norovirus

Sadly, this incident on the Celebrity Summit isn’t an isolated one. It marks the seventh reported outbreak on a cruise ship this year alone. And guess what? Norovirus is the culprit in a whopping six out of those seven outbreaks. It seems like this highly contagious virus has a serious case of wanderlust, and unfortunately, cruise ships are its preferred mode of transportation.

Celebrity Cruises, in particular, seems to be having a string of bad luck. Earlier this year, the Celebrity Constellation, one of the Summit’s fleetmates, also experienced a run-in with norovirus, affecting one hundred passengers and crew members. You’d think they’d invest in some industrial-strength hand sanitizer, wouldn’t you?

The Stomach-Churning Reality of Norovirus

Okay, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, or rather, the microscopic troublemaker on the ship: norovirus. This highly contagious virus is the ultimate party pooper, spreading like wildfire through contaminated food, water, surfaces, or even just by breathing the same air as someone who’s already under its spell.

Now, for the part you’ve probably been dreading – the symptoms. Brace yourselves, folks, because it’s not pretty. We’re talking about a one-way ticket to the bathroom with frequent stops for diarrhea and vomiting. Nausea and stomach cramps are also invited to this awful party. Not exactly the kind of “adventure” you sign up for on a cruise, right?

Celebrity Cruises Takes Action (Better Late Than Never?)

So, what did Celebrity Cruises do about this floating petri dish, you ask? Well, once the outbreak reared its ugly head, they sprang into action (or at least we hope it was springing and not a leisurely stroll). The usual protocols were rolled out: isolating the infected passengers – because who wants to be stuck on a ship with a bunch of sick people? – and intensifying those sanitation efforts. Think of it as a deep clean, but on a much grander, more desperate scale.

While these measures are certainly necessary, it does make you wonder if there’s more that cruise lines could be doing to prevent these outbreaks in the first place. Maybe it’s time for a complete overhaul of their hygiene practices? Food handling boot camps for the crew? Mandatory hand sanitizer showers upon entry? Okay, maybe that last one is a bit extreme, but you get the idea.

How to Avoid Becoming a Norovirus Statistic (Because Nobody Wants That Souvenir)

Cruising should be about exploring exotic destinations and indulging in endless buffets, not battling a stomach bug. So, before you pack your bags and board that ship, here are some tips to help you avoid becoming the next norovirus victim:

• Channel your inner germaphobe: Wash your hands like it’s your job. And by that, we mean frequently and thoroughly, especially before eating and after using the restroom. If you’re feeling extra cautious, carry some hand sanitizer with you too – you know, for those “just in case” moments.
• Be a picky eater (in a good way): As tempting as that buffet spread might be, steer clear of anything that looks questionable. Is that salad wilting faster than a Kardashian marriage? Skip it. Is that seafood dish giving you the side-eye? Probably best to avoid it too. Stick to well-cooked foods and be wary of anything that’s been sitting out for a while.
• Hydrate like a boss: Stick to bottled water and avoid drinking from the tap, even if the crew insists it’s safe. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to your digestive system.
• If you do get sick, embrace your inner hermit: As tempting as it might be to power through and try to enjoy your vacation, if you start feeling even the slightest bit icky, stay in your cabin. The last thing you want to do is spread the love (or in this case, the norovirus) to your fellow passengers. Alert the ship’s medical team and let them handle it.