Source: Cruise Junkie dot Com

Illness Outbreaks at Sea by Princess Cruises

By
Ship:
Caribbean Princess (2004)
Coral Princess (2003)
Crown Princess (2006)
Diamond Princess (2004)
Emerald Princess (2001) Golden Princess (2001) Grand Princess (1998) Island Princess (2003)
Pacific Princess (1999) Regal Princess (1991) Royal Princess (1984) Ruby Princess (1991)
Sapphire Princess (2004) Sea Princess (1998) Sun Princess (1995) Star Princess (2002)


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The events listed have been reported in the public domain or to cruisejunkie by passengers or crew members onboard.  The list is by no means comprehensive.  For that reason it is necessary to be cautious in drawing conclusions from the potentially limited data.  Keep in mind that some companies may be more transparent than others about things that go wrong; conversely, some companies may be better at concealing events and thereby project an appearance that is inaccurate.  With that said, the following list is still interesting, as are the patterns when viewed separately by ship.




dd/mm/yy
Ship
2008
27.5.07
Sun Princess
A passenger reports there was a large outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on the cruise from Freemantle (Australia) to Vietnam/Asia. Exact numbers have not been reported and are not required by the CDC to be reported given that the cruise does not include any US ports.
9.3.08
Sun Princess The cruise ending today (14 day Sydney to New Zealand return) reportedly had an outbreak of norovirus affecting approximately 100 passengers. According to a passenger, The increased sanitisation program that was put in place made things unpleasant; instead of relaxing on board you were constantly on guard not to touch the banisters, walking the stairs instead of using the lifts, avoiding contact with any other passenger, waiting in long queues for food because services were disrupted, having to walk around with hand sanitisation gel etc. Staff attitudes were also affected -- deck hands were used as sanitisation crews and were putting in many hours extra, and Wait staffs had to do much more as well, like putting salt and pepper on food, as all salt and pepper pots had been removed. All SPA baths were closed; so were the laundry facilities (which made things unpleasant as under clothes had to be washed in the staterooms and after 14 days at sea fresh clothes were becoming a problem).
13.1.08
Dawn Princess A passengers writes that "many, many passengers" came down with gastrointestinal illness during the seven day cruise from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera. The CDC has not reported an outbreak. which requires 3% or more of passengers to report illness to the infirmary -- in the case of this ship there would need to be 60 passengers reporting ill to meet the CDC threshold. NOTE: A passenger on the cruise embarking January 20 also reports a large number of passengers with gastrointestinal illness during the cruise.
10.1.08
Pacific Princess The ship reported 3 of 369 (0.81%) crew and 33 of 642 (5.14%) passengers had reported ill on a cruise that began December 15 in Tahiti and which disembarked at Ft. Lauderdale January 10. 
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2007
26.12.07
Emerald Princess
The ship reported 22 of 1211 (1.82%) crew and 156 of 3209  (4.86%) passengers had reported ill on a 10 day eastern Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale.
8.12.07
Star Princess
Passengers that there is an outbreak of grastrointstinal illness on the current cruise. The ship went from organe alert to red alert on December 7 and the conditions remain the same today. The ship is on an 18 day cruise from Civitavecchia to Fort Lauderdale (Dec 3 - 20).
8.4.07
Caribbean Princess The CDC reports that 117 people came down with what appeared to be norovirus on the cruise ending today -- six people were still in isolation when the cruise ended.  The breakdown of crew vs. passengers reporting ill was not provided -- instead the illness was minimized by saying that "about 2.5 percent of those onboard" (reportedly 4500 passengers and crew) had reported ill.  If the distribution between crew and passengers is as it usually is, the percentage is closer to 4 percent of passengers.
22.3.07
Regal Princess The ship reported that 8 of 860 crew (0.9%) and 69 of 1504 passengers (4.6%) have reported ill on a 12 day cruise from Lima (Peru) to San Juan.  The cruise ends March  25.  This is the first cruise since the ship left drydock following its scraping bottom on a Mexican Riviera cruises (see February 20).
8.2.07
Island Princess The ship reported that 37 of 916 4.04%) crew and 179 of 1936  (9.25%) passengers had reported ill on a 15 day Hawaii cruise to/from Los Angeles (26 Jan - 10 Feb).  Symptons were consistent with gastrointestinal illness (e.g., norovirus).  One passenger suggests the number of ill passengers was 2 or more times the numbers given by the CDC -- here are his comments.
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2006
20.12.06
Regal Princess The ship reported that 5 of 678 crew and 75 of 1479 (4.81%) passengers had reported ill on the  7 - 27 December Panama Canal cruise from San Juan.   Symptons were consistent with gastrointestinal illness (e.g., norovirus)
10.12.06
Sun Princess The ship reported that 7 of 862 (0.81%) crew and 112 of 2013 (5.56%) passengers had reported ill on the  30 November - 10 December Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale.   Symptons were consistent with gastrointestinal illness (e.g., norovirus)
5.11.06
Island Princess The ship reported that 11 of 905  (1.22%) crew and 109 of 1959 (5.56%) passengers had reported ill on the 21  October - 5 November cruise to Hawai'i, leaving from and returning to Los Angeles.  Symptoms were consistent with gastrointestinal illness (e.g., norovirus). 
9.9.06
Diamond Princess Just got off the Diamond Princess cruise to Alaska - 9/2 - 9/9/06 .. ship was delayed on 9/2/06 by three hours due to the norovirus on the previous cruise.  Before boarding we were given "Precaution Health Advisory Norovirus" letters - from Dr Grant Tarling, warning us of the illness and the precautionary measures we should take.  We received another "Health Advisory Update" letter on Thursday, 9/7/06 stating that over the last 24 hours they had "noticed an increase in new cases strongly suggestive of Norovirus" and requested our continued support with their recommended health precautions.  The CDC reports 4 of 1120 crew (0.36%) and 127 of 2643 passengers (4.81%) were reported as ill.
27.8.06
Diamond Princess From a passenger:  Norovirus was reported on Aug 27 and the ship's Doctor sent out several memos.  Capt also mentioned hygienic precautions in at least one noontime report from the bridge. Cruise director also came down with it and spent 2 days in his cabin. Each dining room had a list of cabin numbers in quarantine. You had to give your cabin number to enter the dining room.  I got a peek at the list and there were three pages of probably 20 entries per page.  Would estimate minimum of 60 cases that were reported.  Suspect there were many others who were sick but did not report because they did not want to be quarantined.
24.8.06
Diamond Princess From a passenger on the cruise embarking August 19:  Spike in GI incidence Thursday morning  Aug. 24, 2006 (day 5)after being in port in Skagway day before.  At noon hour staff in Horizon Court began serving all food & bread baskets no longer on table in dining room.  Captain made an annoucement late afternoon advising of increased precautions & encouraging all pasenegers to use hand sanitizers. Masked,  gloved crew members observed removing cabin linens into sealed plastic bags. Numbers affected unknown.
6.6.06
Pacific Princess A passenger reports at Cruise Critic on an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness affecting more than 40 passengers (5.88% of the 680 onboard).  The outbreak appeared to be kept under control through usual measures such as closing buffets and public areas and requiring use of sanitizers.  The ship is cruising southeast Asia.
31.5.06
Sea Princess The ship will skip Lisbon and end its current cruise a day early because of a norovirus outbreak.  (The ship anchored at Vigo but passengers were no allowed to disembark.)  Many fell sick within 24 hours of embarkation; there had been a similar outbreak on the previous cruise.  The Mirror reports that 215 passengers and 15 crew had fallen sick on the current cruise and there were similar numbers the cruise before.  (Here's a collection of media reports.)
29.5.06
Coral Princess As passengers boarded they were asked to sign a statement indicating they had been notified that norovirus was onboard.  An unknown number of passenger were ill the previous cruise and the cruise ending June 5.
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2005
30.11.05
Diamond Princess The Brisbane Courier-Mail reports that doctors are "battling to contain a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus among almost 4000 passengers and crew on the luxury cruise liner." The ship is on a 16-day cruise which began in Beijing on November 20.  Passengers were given a health advisory about norovirus when they boarded the fully-booked ship; by day 4 they were advised that 37 cases have been reported and instructed to practice good personal hygiene.  The number of ill was revised to 58 (of 2650 passengers) on November 30.  A passenger aboard the previous cruise (November 8 -- Bankok to Beijing) reports that a number of people had norovirus symptoms -- "there was never an official notice but it was common knowledge ."
14.5.05 Dawn Princess The CDC reports that 76 of 1974 passengers (3.9%) and 9 of 864 crew members (1.0%) reported  ill during the April 29 - May 14 cruise ending in San Francisco.
14.5.05
Sun Princess The CDC reports that 121of 2000 passengers (6.05%) and 4 of 852 crew members (.47%) reported  ill during the May 9 - 16 cruise ending in Whittier, AK.
23.3.05
Royal Princess The CDC reports that 41 of 1163 passengers (3.27%) and 15 of 541crew members (2.77%) reported  ill during the March 7  - March 24 cruise ending in Fort Lauderdale.
18.1.05 Sun Princess The CDC reports that 93 of 2,035 passengers (4.57%) and 5 of 865 crew members (.58%) reported  ill with norovirus during the Jan 8 - 18 cruise beginning and ending in Fort Lauderdale. Plans were to have the ship "fogged" before the next cruise.
14.1.05
Diamond Princess Several passengers posted messages at Cruise Critic indicating a significant number (a busload) of passengers experienced symptoms consistent with norovirus during the cruise Jan 7 - 14 (ending in Los Angeles).
7.1.05 Coral Princess A passenger reports that there was an increased number of passengers and crew with gastrointestinal illness and estimates between 40 and 100 passengers and 25 to 30 crew members have been affected.  The CDC reported 84 of 2116 (3.97%) passengers and 31 of 913 crew (3.4%) reported ill on this cruise to/from San Juan.
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2004
19.12.04
Golden Princess A passenger reports there was a significant outbreak of illness (hundreds of passengers affected) on the Caribbean cruise, December 12 - 19.  According to CDC: the ship reported that an unusual number of passengers and some crew members were experiencing GI illness. The ship’s medical staff reported that 84 of 2742 (3.06%) passengers and 15 of 1100 (1.36%) crew members were ill.  Predominant symptoms are diarrhea and vomiting.  The cruise ends in San Juan on December 19.
2.11.04 Sun Princess The ten-day cruise was struck with an outbreak of illness.  According to one passenger:  I was confined (quarenteened) to my cabin for 5 days with the Norwalk Virus. I got it 4 days into the sailing and at the 1st port we arrived at. I never left the ship. We were later told that the service in the dining room was so poor because everyone was sick. Then we heard from the entertainer that she had the flu and a fever and was the whole crew was given a vaccine(flu shot).  Representatives of the CDC boarded the ship, but no information has yet been released.
20.9.04 Sun Princess The ship will go through a "super-sanitization" for any traces of Norwalk-like virus when its arrives at Vancouver today.  101 passengers and 14 crew were reported ill by September 17.  The cruise left Whittier September 13.
17.9.04
Regal Princess I received the following from a passenger onboard the ship:  The captain has just announced that there are sick people on board and that we need to wash our hands especially after we use the restroom ... They have isolated the people who are sick and are in high alert and started the sterilization process to stop the virus before it  gets worse. It must just be starting. The cruise began  in New York on Sept. 11 and ended in Montreal Sept. 21.  On September 21, the ship’s medical staff reported that 47 of 1537 (3.06%) passengers and 7 of 680 (1.03%) crew members were ill. The predominant symptoms were diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and nausea.
13.9.04 Sun Princess Princess Cruises reported that that 145 of 1998 (7.26%) passengers and 5 of 855 (.58%) crew members were ill. The predominant symptoms were diarrhea and vomitting..  The ship's voyage will ended on September 13, 2004, in Whittier, AK (sailing dates: September 6 - 13).
28.7.04 Pacific Princess Princess Cruise Line reported that that 22 of 614 (3.58%) passengers and 4 of 383 (1.04%) crew members were ill. The predominant symptom is diarrhea.  The ship's voyage will end on August 17, 2004, in Honolulu, HI (sailing dates: July 25-August 17). They will arrive in U.S. port (Saipan) on August 1.  CDC numbers: 57 pax (9.22%) and 10 crew (2.52%).
10.6.04
Island Princess
For a second week in a row, passengers were struck with illness consistent witn norovirous. On June 9, the ship reported that 66 passengers and 19 crew had reported illness consistent with norovirus.  The cruise began in Whittier and will end June 12 in Vancouver.
4.6.04

Island Princess
375 passengers and 49 crew were reportedly stricken with norovirus.  The seven-day cruise began in Vancouver on May 29 and ended a day early in Whittier on June 4.
24.3.04
Royal Princess
On March 22, the ship reported that 46 passengers and 12 crew had reported illness consistent with norovirus.  The cruise ran from March 9 - 25.
22.1.04
Coral Princess
136 passengers (6.49%) and 20 crew members (2.19%)  on Panama Canal cruise reportedly came down with a gastronintestinal illness caused by norovirus.
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2003
28.8.03
Regal Princess
There was an outbreak of Norwalk-like virus on the ship on Aug 19th, the day after it left Copenhagen.  A total of 301 passengers and 45 crew were reportedly ill during the planned 16 day cruise.  The cruise ended two days early in NYC (Sept 2) after missing planned stops in Greenland and Newfoundland.  While the cruise line suggests that a passenger brought the virus with them when they boarded in Copenhagen, a psasenger on the previous cruise reports that there had been "...several days of overflowing toilets in the public restrooms, as well as in the passengers cabins occured. Carpets were changed, plastic over carpet in several areas seemed the norm. Several crew members fell ill including our assistant waiter who was quarentined for days."  There were purportedly plumbing problems on several earlier cruises as well.  A report from onboard indicates that as of September 7th, there have been no illnesses and all of the crew is back on duty.
9.8.03
Star Princess
107 passengers and 14 crew members were afflicted by Norwalk-like virus on cruise between Seattle and Alaska. Departure of next cruise delayed several hours for disinfecting of the ship.  
2.2.03
Sun Princess
265 passengers and 29 crew came down with a gastrointestinal illness during the ship's voyage from Los Angeles to Hawaii (Jan. 25 - Feb. 1).  It is suspected to be Norwalk-like virus.  After new cases continued to appear, Princess decided to cut the cruise short (ending it on February 4th in Honolulu) and to fly passengers back to the mainland from Hawaii.  The ship will be sanitized on its five day voyage back to Los Angeles (arriving February 9th).
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2002
1-8.6.02
Ocean Princess
Outbreak of gastrointestinal illness caused by Norwalk-like virus effects 88 passengers and 39 crew.  See CDC for more information.
24.5 - 1.6.02 Ocean Princess Outbreak of gastrointestinal illness caused by Norwalk-like virus effects 40 passengers and 12 crew.  See CDC for more information.
dd/mm/yy
Ship
2001 and earlier
Aug.98
Regal Princess
Princess cancelled a cruise in order to clean the ship after 430 passengers became ill on three successive Alaska cruises (Norwalk virus). 
Apr.97
Royal Princess
Illness (E. coli) outbreak reported by CDC -- details unknown
Feb.97
Regal Princess
Illness outbreak reported by CDC -- details unknown
Mar.96
Royal Princess
Illness (E. coli) outbreak reported by CDC -- details unknown