An outbreak of gastrointestinal/GI illness has affected passengers and crew aboard the cruise ship Star Princess during a Caribbean voyage operated by Princess Cruises.
According to information released by the CDC, a total of 153 individuals reported symptoms consistent with norovirus infection. Among the 4,307 passengers on board, 104 guests were affected, along with 49 members of the crew. The reported symptoms primarily included vomiting and diarrhea.
The large vessel was operating a 7-day Caribbean itinerary at the time of the outbreak and concluded the voyage at Port Everglades on March 14th. The cruise had departed on March 7th.
In a statement provided by Princess Cruises, a limited number of individuals had experienced mild GI illness during the voyage. The company noted that enhanced sanitation procedures were implemented across the vessel, including thorough disinfection of public spaces and the introduction of additional hygiene measures throughout the sailing. Princess also reported that individuals experiencing symptoms were separated from other guests and crew members so they could rest privately as a precaution intended to reduce further spread of illness onboard.
For more Star Princess incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page.