The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people "often associate cruise ships with acute gastrointestinal illnesses such as norovirus. But acute gastrointestinal illness is relatively infrequent on cruise ships despite its notoriety."
According to the CDC, between 2008 and 2014, 74 million passengers sailed on cruise ships within the jurisdiction of its Vessel Sanitation Program. Only 129,678 passengers met the program's case definition for acute gastrointestinal illness and only a small proportion of those cases (1 in 10) were part of a norovirus outbreak.
Nonetheless, the CDC says, norovirus is a very contagious virus and it spreads quickly in confined spaces -- whether that be a cruise ship or a hospital. You can get norovirus from an infected person, from contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. It leads to stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and vomiting.
In its Vessel Sanitation Program, designed to help cruise ships prevent GI illness outbreaks, the CDC conducts unannounced inspections of the ships twice a year in U.S. ports, and trains cruise ship employees on sanitation practices. The inspections look at the ships' water supplies, medical centers, galleys, dining rooms, swimming pools, housekeeping practices, pest management, children's play centers, and ventilation systems.
Cruise ships are scored on a 100-point scale. Points are deducted from the score when there is a pattern of similar violations of the same criteria or when there is a single, significant violation. An 85 or below is a failing score.
Who wants to spend part or all of their vacation quarantined in their cruise ship cabin, sick? Nobody. So wash your hands frequently and take a look at the cruise ships that scored 100 points on the most recent 2017 inspections.
(Photo:Disney)
Seven Seas Explorer
Cruise line: Regent Seven Seas
The Seven Seas Explore was christened by Princess Charlene of Monaco in 2016. The high-end luxury ship carries about 750 passengers. Photo: Regent Seven Seas
Eurodam
Cruise line: Holland America Line
The Eurodam recently updated its lounge, dining and entertainment venues, and suites. Photo: Holland America Line
Navigator of the Seas
Cruise line: Royal Caribbean International
This ship has a surf simulator, outdoor cinema screen, and "virtual balconies." Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Celebrity Eclipse
Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises
The Eclipse was launched in 2010 and cost about $750 million. Photo: Celebrity Cruises
Carnival Valor
Cruise line: Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc., part of Carnival Corp. (CCL)
The Carnival Valor boasts a 214-foot long, four-deck-tall Twister waterslide. The ship carries up to 2,980 passengers and sails the Caribbean and Panama Canal out of Galveston, Texas and New Orleans. Photo: Carnival
Seabourn Quest
Cruise line: Seabourn Cruise Line
Above, the Italian ship MS Seabourn moored in Sète, France. Photo: Christian Ferrer/Wikipedia
Disney Magic
Cruise line: Disney Cruise Lines, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) .
This cruise ships sails Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Photo: Disney
Celebrity Infinity
Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises
In 2016 the Celebrity Infinity hit a dock in Ketchikan, Alaska during high winds and bad weather. Photo: Celebrity
AIDAdiva
Cruise line: Aida Cruises
Above, the Germany-based cruise line's AIDAdiva moored in Dubai. The ship holds 2,050 passengers and has eleven bars and a casino. Photo: Martin Falbisoner/Wikipedia
Celebrity Solstice
Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises
Above, the Solstice in Alaska. Photo: Celebrity
Carnival Inspiration
Cruise line: Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.
Above, the Inspiration near Avalon Calif. The ship usually cruises to Mexico out of Los Angeles. Photo: Carnival
Radiance of the Seas
Cruise line: Royal Caribbean International (RCL)
This ship was reportedly the first cruise ship to feature pool tables that are stabilized by a computer-controlled gyroscope. Photo: Fletcher6/Wikipedia
Norwegian Sky
Cruise line: Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCLH)
The Norwegian Sky used to sail under the name Pride of Aloha. It generally sails the Bahamas and Cuba. Photo: OneCyclone/Wikipedia
Oceania Insignia
Cruise line: Oceania Cruises
The Insignia carries up to 684 passengers with a crew of 400. Photo: Oceania
Grandeur of the Seas
Cruise line: Royal Caribbean International
This is one of the cruise line's older and smaller vessels. It has a casino and eight bars, and sails from New England to Canada and Mexico. Photo: Wladyslaw/Wikipedia
Oceania Marina
Cruise line: Oceania Cruises
Oceania was built in 2011 and refurbished in 2016. It sails Australia and the South Pacific. Photo: Jordandkatz/Wikipedia
Cruise line: Norwegian Cruise Lines
Above, the Norwegian Jewel in New York. This 93,502-ton ship sails Asia, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand. Photo: Ján Sokoly/Wikipedia
Celebrity Reflection
Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises
The Reflection carries up to 3,046 passengers and sails to the Caribbean and Europe. Photo: Celebrity
Carnival Elation
Cruise line: Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc. Photo: Jaxport/flickr
Carnival Victory
Cruise line: Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.
Above, the Carnival Victory docked in St. Kitts. This ship sails to the Bahamas and Caribbean out of Miami. Photo: Crispas/Wikipedia
Koningsdam
Cruise line: Holland America Line
Koningsdam's central atrium is three decks high. "Koning," means king in Dutch-and is a salute to King Willem-Alexander, the Netherland's king. Photo: Pjotr Mahhonin/Wikipedia
Celebrity Silhouette
Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises
The 1047-foot Silhouette cruises at 24 knots and weights 122,400 tons. Photo: Celebrity
Disney Fantasy
Cruise line: Disney Cruise Lines
Sister ship to the Disney Dream, the Fantasy is decorated in Art Nouveau style. It cruises the Caribbean. Photo: Trey Ratcliff Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Disney Dream
Cruise line: Disney Cruise Lines
This ship usually cruises in the Bahamas. Photo: Pixabay
Oosterdam
Cruise line: Holland America Line
The Oosterdam recently emerged from dry dock with a new lounge, dining and entertainment venues, and completely refreshed suites. Photo: pcwiles/Wikipedia
Coral Princess
Cruise line: Princess Cruises
The Coral Princess, docked in Ketchikan, above, accommodates up to 2,000 passengers and 895 crew members. It was refurbished in January 2016. Photo: Sunnya343/Wikipedia
Celebrity Equinox
Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises
This 1041-foot ship travels up to 24 knots as it carries you and 2,849 other passengers to the Caribbean. Photo: Celebrity
Freedom of the Seas
Cruise line: Royal Caribbean International
One of the larger cruise ships, Freedom of the Seas carries up to 3,634 passengers and 1,300 crew. It weighs 154,407 tons and has 15 passenger decks. Above, the ship in Hamburg, Germany. Photo: Torsten Bolten/Wikipedia
Caribbean Princess
Cruise line: Princess Cruises
This ship was christened in 2004 by Jill Whelan, who played the Captain's daughter, Vicki Stubing, on the 1970s-80s TV show "The Love Boat." Photo: loimere/Wikipedia
Other ships that scored 100 were the Island Princess of Princess Cruises, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Epic of Norwegian Cruise Lines, Disney Wonder of Disney Cruise Lines, and Carnival's Fantasy. The scores of all ships are posted on the CDC website.
