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What you need to know about Norovirus
Q: How long will it take me to recover?
A: Once you have been exposed to Norovirus, it takes anywhere from one to three days for its symptoms to appear; symptoms typically last only 24 to 48 hours but keep up the good hygiene -- people may be contagious for as long as two weeks after recovery.
Q: Why do I only hear about Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships?
A: It has been a particular problem of late for cruise ships because passengers and crew typically occupy close -- and closed-in -- quarters, such as casinos, theaters and banquet-style dining rooms. However, Norovirus has been known to close schools, attack college dormitories and even infect a Hollywood Academy Awards party.
"The reason you hear about Norovirus on cruise ships is because they are required to report every incidence of gastrointestinal illness," according to Dave Forney, chief of the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program. "Nowhere else in the public health system of the United States is Norovirus a reportable illness. Norovirus is not a 'cruise ship' illness, but an illness commonly seen in many settings throughout the United States."
Q: What are cruise lines doing to halt the spread of Norovirus?
A: Typically, when there's a significant outbreak of Norovirus or a similar illness (the CDC requires cruise lines to immediately file a report when more than 3 percent of passengers are ill), crewmembers clean even more thoroughly than usual -- with stronger solvents. Beyond that, crewmembers distribute information to passengers onboard offering precautionary tips, as well as a heads-up memo at embarkation to travelers boarding a ship that had previously seen a high percentage of illness. Buffet service often switches from "help yourself" to manned stations.
As we've seen recently, that isn't always enough: Both Carnival Liberty and Freedom of the Seas docked for two full days of extensive post-Noro cleaning sans passengers, overseen by the CDC.
There are also behind-the-scenes procedures that cruise lines must follow. For instance, medical officers are required to maintain illness incident counts for each voyage that involves a stop at an American port. They are also required to communicate to the CDC, within 24-hours of arrival at a U.S. port, "the number of passengers and crew members who reported diarrhea to the ship's medical staff" during that voyage.
Q: Is Norovirus more likely to break out on an unclean ship?
A: No. The Vessel Sanitation Program also monitors vessel cleanliness and there is no correlation between scores and outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness. In fact, Carnival Liberty scored a 94 on its more recent inspection; Freedom of the Seas netted a 97. The twice-yearly exam is notoriously thorough and challenging; 86 or above is considered passing.
Q: What exactly is the CDC, and how is it involved?
A: The CDC operates under the authority of the U.S. Public Health Service Act; its mission is to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases in the U.S. More specifically, its Vessel Sanitation Program monitors illness outbreaks on ships carrying more than 13 passengers. Twenty-four hours prior to arrival at a U.S. port from a foreign port, vessels must report to the CDC the number of passengers and crew onboard, and the number of passengers and crew who have reported to the ship's medical staff with a gastrointestinal illness -- even if that number is zero. Therefore, the CDC has reports from every cruise vessel, on just about every cruise, even if there was no illness.
If at any time during the cruise the number of ill passengers or crew reaches 3 percent, the vessel must file a special report notifying CDC of the illness. Almost all of these reports are generated electronically.
Q: Am I entitled to compensation from the cruise line if I get Norovirus while on a voyage?
A: Tricky question. Cruise lines are not required to compensate guests who fall ill on a voyage. However, cruise lines will generally compensate passengers whose voyage is altered or canceled due to an outbreak. Guests booked on the voyage of Carnival Liberty that was shortened for the two-day cleaning were offered the chance to sail with a 50 percent refund and 50 percent future cruise credit, or cancel for a full refund and reimbursement of airline change fees. Royal Caribbean offered guests on the shortened Freedom of the Seas sailing the chance to cancel for a full refund and a future cruise discount, or sail and receive a future cruise discount and additional compensation.
Be sure to read your contract -- on the back of your cruise documents or ticket -- very carefully. Each line has specific rules regarding compensation.
Q: Will travel insurance cover me in case I want to cancel because of fear of illness?
A: There is no fear-of-illness coverage in the industry. However, travel insurance will cover you if you cancel because you got sick before you went or are stricken onboard. Specifically, it could also pick up medical expenses and/or compensate you for days you missed if you left the ship before the end of the cruise. Since policies vary between travel insurers, read the fine print before you go.
Cruise Critic, which launched in 1995, is a comprehensive cruise vacation planning guide providing objective cruise ship reviews, cruise line profiles, destination content on 125+ worldwide ports, cruise bargains, tips, industry news, and cruise message boards.
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