The norovirus is a tough one. It cause diarrhea and vomiting. Luckily, it passes in about three days. Anyone can get it. Humans have not developed an immunity to it. Any large gathering of people can contract it.

Cruise ships are one of the common sites for the virus to spread – there are thousands of folks onboard in close proximity to each other.

How is it transmitted?  As few as one person on the ship can be the carrier. He/she comes in contact with another and bingo – it moves rapidly throughout. Some places are handrails, door knobs and mostly FOOD. AND toilets. Usetowels to open the doors.

MORE: We’ve alerted you to this issue several times.  It’s no fun to be quarantined during your vacation.

According to the CDC – Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, for the year 2018, only 5 ships had outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses. This translates to 547 cases – that’s half of 2017.

A cruise line is required to report an outbreak to the CDC if over three percent of passengers are stricken by illness. This means that it’s possible — perhaps even likely — more cruisers fell ill, but in small enough numbers that it did not turn into a full-blown outbreak.

Now the bad news. Here are the ships who had to file reports.

Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony
Holland America Group’s  Volendam
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Mariner
Holland America Group’s Zaandam
Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Infinity
Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria
Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Quest
Princess Cruises’ Island Princess

Let us know if we can help you get on cruise ships. Free ain’t a bad price.