Why is it so easy to get sick on a cruise?

The cause of most cruise line norovirus outbreaks is contaminated food or water. The way it spreads is through physical contact. With over 3,000 people in close quarters aboard these ships, obviously, the disease spreads quickly. There is no real treatment for norovirus infections.



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Some people do get seasick when taking a cruise. This is more common if the cruise encounters bad weather but it can happen at any time to almost anybody. Guests who are already prone to motion sickness are more likely to feel seasick on a cruise and the majority of passengers do not get seasick.

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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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Respiratory Illnesses. Respiratory illnesses are the most common medical complaint on cruise ships.

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Cruise ships in particular have many of the conditions that make people susceptible to norovirus—close quarters, enclosed spaces, communal dining, and high turnover of passengers. “The virus is often associated with cruise travel simply because health officials are required to track illnesses on ships,” Shah said.

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More than 300 sickened on Ruby Princess cruise ship, CDC says. Hundreds of passengers and crew members fell ill while on board a Princess Cruises ship, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. In total, 284 of 2,881 passengers on the Ruby Princess reported being sick during the voyage between Feb.

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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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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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It often goes away on its own within a year.

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This outbreak left 110 of 838 (13.1%) passengers and nine of 455 (1.98%) crew members sick in a bad way. Norovirus outbreaks have hit ships from a range of different cruise ship companies including Viking Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and P&O Cruises.

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Cabins at the Front of the Ship This is because the front of the ship is more exposed to the movement of the water as they plough through the rough seas. If you're prone to seasickness, it's best to avoid cabins at the front of the ship.

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In 2023, a decade-high number of cruise ships have reported an unwelcome passenger on board: norovirus. Outbreaks of the stomach bug have surged on cruise ships this year, reaching the highest levels seen in 10 years.

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The 5 Most Dangerous Parts of a Ship for Passengers
  • Watertight Doors. Never try to outrun a closing watertight door. ...
  • Wet/Slippery Surfaces. ...
  • Ferries & Lifeboats. ...
  • Dining Facilities & Fast-Spreading Illnesses. ...
  • Balconies. ...
  • Talking to a Florida Cruise Ship Injury Attorney.


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How Common is it to Get Sick on a Cruise? 15% of people have reported feeling seasick while onboard. In our experience we can add an other 10% of passengers that will suffer from other illness, such as colds, flu and hangovers.

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If you're concerned about being seasick on a cruise, it's good to know that Celebrity's Solstice-class ships, which include Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Eclipse, and Celebrity Reflection, are built for smooth sailing, with fin-like stabilizers mounted beneath the ship's ...

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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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Chewing on ginger or sipping ginger ale is a common approach, but you could also try some classic aromatherapy. Scents like peppermint and lavender can calm your senses and encourage important deep breathing when feeling nauseated.

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Midship staterooms on the lowest passenger deck are the most excellent spot to be on a cruise ship in this instance because you don't feel the vessel sway as much.

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During the Trip. Wash your hands with soap and water, not just hand sanitizer. While hand sanitizer can kill some germs, it does not work well against norovirus. Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly and frequently for at least 20 seconds.

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