More than 120 passengers and crew members on Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess fall ill with suspected norovirus while the ship travels from San Francisco to Alaska and Canada, according to U.S. health officials. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 102 passengers and 23 crew members reported becoming ill during the voyage. The ship, carrying 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew, departed San Francisco on 12 June on a 20-day round trip and later docks in San Francisco for disinfection as needed. Multiple outlets report that not all ill people became sick at the same time or necessarily when the ship arrived or left port.
Norovirus is highly contagious and commonly spreads through contaminated surfaces, food, or direct contact in crowded settings. Symptoms typically include sudden vomiting and diarrhea that can last about three days. Princess Cruises says its crew responds promptly and implements enhanced sanitation protocols across the ship, with thorough cleaning and disinfection planned before the vessel departs on its next trip. The CDC also notes that seven illness outbreaks involving cruise ships in its jurisdiction have been reported so far this year, mostly linked to norovirus.
