Why does cruise ship food make you sick?

Serving expired foods, failing to enforce kitchen sanitation practices, cross-contamination and other issues involving improper food handling and safety practices are among the leading causes of food poisoning onboard cruise ships.



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Norovirus is among the most common types of food poisoning onboard cruise ships. Passengers can contract norovirus from unrinsed fruits and vegetables, undercooked shellfish, unwashed utensils, and various other sources.

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Studies have shown that quick application of hand sanitizers does not kill the norovirus. It takes about 30 seconds of hard rubbing with hot water and soap to kill it. The cause of most cruise line norovirus outbreaks is contaminated food or water. The way it spreads is through physical contact.

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While the virus has garnered the nickname “cruise ship virus,” in reality, norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships account for only 1% of all reported norovirus outbreaks, the CDC says. In fact, acute gastrointestinal illness is fairly uncommon on cruise ships, the agency says.

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One of the biggest misconceptions about cruise ships is that they're germ incubators—that you can't escape. But the likelihood of catching a stomach bug on a seven-day voyage is less than 1 percent—which is about a third the risk of getting infected in your day-to-day life back home, says Dr.

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Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships surge after years of decline. Halfway through the year, there are already more confirmed outbreaks in 2023 than there have been since 2012. Data for 2023 is through the end of June. Other years capture the total number of outbreaks for the full calendar year.

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Norovirus spreads easily and can make anyone ill, with symptoms usually lasting one to three days. The virus most often spreads in closed and crowded environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, school and cruise ships, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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They also collected stool samples from sick people and sent them to the CDC to attempt to identify the cause of the illness. A Princess Cruises' spokeswoman said the illness was likely due to a highly contagious norovirus, sometimes dubbed the “cruise ship virus,” reported CBS News. What do you think?

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Gastrointestinal tract Traveler's diarrhea is a digestive tract disorder that commonly causes loose stools and stomach cramps. It's caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Fortunately, traveler's diarrhea usually isn't serious in most people — it's just unpleasant.

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Here's the list of foods she recommends skipping on your next cruise.
  • Sushi. Although cruise lines take safe food handling extremely seriously, nothing is foolproof. ...
  • Soft Serve Ice Cream Cones. ...
  • Scrambled Eggs. ...
  • Old Pizza. ...
  • Communal Condiments. ...
  • Compromised Food. ...
  • More Than One Plate at a Time. ...
  • Dessert During the Day.


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Top 3 Tips on How to Avoid Norovirus on a Cruise Ship
  1. Wash Your Hands Frequently. The most important thing that you can do to avoid Norovirus on a cruise ship is to wash and sanitize your hands as frequently as possible! ...
  2. Make Sure Food is Protected. ...
  3. Keep Your Immune System Strong.


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3. Scrambled eggs. That vat of scrambled eggs you see on the buffet at breakfast each morning is likely powdered, and powdered eggs can often be wet and/or squishy. Opt instead for a trip to the made-to-order egg and omelet station.

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How Not to Get Sick on a Cruise
  1. See a travel medicine specialist before your trip. ...
  2. Pack your own hand sanitizer and travel-size disinfectant. ...
  3. Avoid common serving utensils. ...
  4. No sharing. ...
  5. Wash your hands obsessively. ...
  6. Eat your foods cooked. ...
  7. Skip unpasteurized foods. ...
  8. Use your own restroom.


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You can take steps to avoid travelers' diarrhea
  1. Choose food and drinks carefully. Eat only foods that are cooked and served hot. Avoid food that has been sitting on a buffet. ...
  2. Wash your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.


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Norovirus is a very contagious virus that often causes diarrhea and vomiting. Some people call it the “cruise ship virus.” Miami Herald File. Summer travel has returned and people are flocking to cruises again, with more than 31.5 million passengers expected to sail in 2023. But sometimes people get sick while onboard.

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Environments Where Norovirus Spreads Quickly “The CDC estimates only about 1% of annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships. Rates are much higher in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and restaurants, which collectively account for about 91% of cases.”

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If you're worried about seasickness, pick a cabin that's as close to the water level as possible and in the center of the ship. You'll be at the ship's fulcrum point, which means you'll feel less movement than people on higher decks with cabins far forward or all the way at the back.

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Try taking Dramamine® Original Formula 30 minutes to an hour before boarding the ship and then as needed and as directed on the packaging. To be extra prepared, consider taking Dramamine® All Day Less Drowsy a day in advance - relieves motion sickness symptoms with less drowsiness for up to 24 hours.

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