Hundreds come down with stomach illness during Royal Caribbean cruise

[sl8]

From http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/16/us/cruise-ship-illness/index.html

Hundreds come down with stomach illness during Royal Caribbean cruise

By Dakin Andone and Deanna Hackney, CNN
Updated 10:27 PM ET, Sat December 16, 2017

(CNN)A Royal Caribbean cruise ship returned to Florida on Saturday after hundreds of passengers contracted a gastrointestinal illness.

During the five-night cruise, 332 cases of the illness were reported, Owen Torres, a spokesman for Royal Caribbean told CNN in a statement. He stressed that it was a small percentage -- 5.99% -- of the more than 5,000 passengers and crew onboard the ship, Independence of the Seas.

"Those affected by the short-lived illness were treated by our ship's doctors with over-the-counter medication," Torres said, "and we hope all our guests feel better quickly."

It is not known what caused the illness.

...

More at link.

[lapfog_1]

1. Never eat the Taco Salad from the buffet... n/t

[lindysalsagal]

2. You'll never get me on one of those boats to hell.

I'd rather get a quick flight to any of their destinations and sit on a deserted beach.

[Vinca]

3. Me, either. The things are floating petri dishes.

[PJMcK]

4. Cruise ships suck

I've been on four cruises: two to Bermuda, one to Nova Scotia and one to Mexico.

Never again.

The first trip to Bermuda was fine until the first evening on our return. There was a fire in the engine room and everyone was ordered to their muster stations. This was shortly after the film "Titanic" was released and many passengers were freaking out. Nothing happened as the crew were excellent. The ship was towed back to Bermuda and the cruise company arranged flights and cars for everyone to get home. Later, I discovered that Tina Fay and her husband were aboard celebrating their honeymoon!

The second trip to Bermuda was a freebie as a result of the fire. It was a horrible trip as many of the passengers were obnoxious.

The trip to Nova Scotia was disastrous, too. The ship's plumbing wasn't working properly and awful odors were all over the ship. That cruise line apologized by giving everyone a coupon for 10% off of their next cruise. Really?!

The trip to Mexico was not unlike the linked article. About a third of the passengers got sick with E. coli. Fun.

Although none of these events affected me personally, who needs that shit? Our next vacation will be to charter a sailboat to cruse Long Island Sound to Block Island. We'll have better food, too.

[Tipperary]

11. I find myself curious about the passengers whom you describe as obnoxious.

How was this shown? Surely passengers can do their own thing without socializing if you want. Right? I am truly curious about this.

[Freddie]

5. My parents LOVED cruises

They always did Holland America (the "blue-haired line&quot where everything was top-notch - food, accommodations, entertainment. They always had a great time, cruised at least annually into their 80's til Mom's health got too bad. You get what you pay for. DH and I have no desire to do a cruise, would rather see historical places. But we end up at the shore each summer with the kids and grandkids.

[samnsara]

6. i always cruise Holland.. they will not allow any guest...

..to help themselves to the buffet until a sufficient amount of time has passed to ensure no one has contaminated the food. There are hand sanitizers EVERYWHERE.

[sl8]

10. I don't understand.

How does the passage of time help ensure that no one's contaminated the food?

[milestogo]

7. amoebic dysentery

can be part of the cruise experience...

[Kingofalldems]

8. Well.......

[IluvPitties]

12. We all assumed Michael Corleone had Tessio killed...

But no, he just sent him to the Love Boat!

[oasis]

9. Not on board with an outfit that offers a second "bite of the apple"

after the first bite made me sick.