Sickness plagues Cunard ships

[Dyflin]

Nearly 80 people onboard Cunard's new £300m luxury liner, the Queen Victoria, have been hit by a sickness bug on her second voyage.

A company spokesman said 25 people were still unwell after the Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, struck.

The 3,000 passengers on the 16-day festive trip around the Canary Islands have paid between £1,100 and £24,400.

The Queen Victoria left her home port of Southampton on 21 December and is due back on the 6 January.

In January 2007, more than 300 people - 17% of the passengers - onboard Cunard's largest liner, the Queen Elizabeth 2, were infected with the Norovirus.

The Queen Victoria was named by the Duchess of Cornwall in the city on 10 December.

The spokesman confirmed that 78 people in total had been taken ill and had been asked to stay in their cabins to prevent further spread of the bug.

All surfaces onboard were being disinfected and passengers were being asked to wash their hands regularly, he said.

He added the cruise schedule had not been changed and the luxury liner was set to arrive in Gran Canaria on New Year's Eve.

The 90,000-tonne ship boasts seven restaurants, three swimming pools, a 6,000-book library and a casino and is Cunard's most luxurious liner.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7164970.stm

 

[Bajansailor]

"In January 2007, more than 300 people - 17% of the passengers - onboard Cunard's largest liner, the Queen Elizabeth 2....."

Shouldnt that be the 'second largest liner' (then - I guess she is the third largest now, with Queen Vic on the scene) - or were they actually referring to the Queen Mary II ?

 

[capnsensible]

This seems to be happening a lot more across the industry. Is it poorly trained staff, poor produce, people less resistant or something??
Sounds more dangerous than a stay in an NHS hospital.
Think I'll spend me 25 grand on something else.

 

[Dyflin]

The companies blame it on the virus being brought on board rather than originating there, so it's "outside their control". Hard to say, but certainly possible. But I do remember when I was at sea that if anyone brought a cold or (worst nightmare) the flu on board would quickly pass it on and make the trip thoroughly miserable.

 

[philip_stevens]

We've recently returned from a cruise on the Island Princess - with no hint of illness amongst any (that we were aware) of the passengers.

One thing that was in evidence from the day we boarded, was the siting of automatic alcohol based hand disinfectant units at the entrance to every restaurant, and manual units on the lido deck outdoor food areas. Everyone that we saw, used them.

Maybe because they are more used to this sort of thing in America, or maybe because it is against middle east religion not to touch alcohol (as reported in one newspaper by some ME staff protesting against its use in some hospitals in the UK) that it was not initially in use on the QV.

From the media reports, these disinfectant units were not in place/evidence on the QV until after the outbreak started.

My wife had to visit a private hospital (via NHS) and these hand cleansing units were available to be used before she even spoke to registration staff. Not so in the local NHS hospitals.

Having been in the MN, I know how quickly any infection (colds, sore throats) can travel through a ship.

 

[oceanfroggie]

I can't imagine anything worse than being imprisoned on a cruise liner (ie high rise floating shopping mall) for two weeks - a form of self imposed hell! Being sick would only make it worse. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[jackmark]

The ship's captain has ordered a major cleaning operation of handrails, dining rooms and other public areas in a bid to protect the remaining 2,000 or so passengers and crew.The 90,000-tonne ship, the second largest ever built by Cunard, is due to arrive at New York on Tuesday before travelling to the Caribbean for a two-week tour. It left Southampton on Monday.

A spokesman for New York's City Economic Development Corporation, which is in charge of passenger arrivals, said it was monitoring the situation. One passenger said: 'It's actually very worrying here at the moment. We've saved up a lot of money for this cruise and now we're scared to leave our cabins in case we come down with the illness.