A Norovirus outbreak on board Sun Princess has sparked headlines around the world. The London Sun claimed the passengers were “evacuated”, and some passengers reportedly chose to fly back to Australia once the vessel docked in Singapore.
But the Port of Singapore said there had been no “evacuation”. Local news reports claimed 229 passengers and crew were affected, but only around 16 passengers chose to fly back to Australia.
And Cruise Passenger readers Ron and Pauline Marlborough, who were on board the ship, said in a comment: “The Sun Princess norovirus story is being overdone….
” The cases that arose were mainly through the fault of passengers not taking normal precautions with hand washing and in many cases arguments broke out because some passengers refused to wash their hands before eating.
“They should have been offloaded!
“All passengers had to leave the ship in Singapore because it was the end of one leg and the start of another – NOT because of the virus. I or my wife am not connected in anyway to Princess Cruises but believe they did an excellent job.”
The Sun Princess left Fremantle on November 1, and arrived in Singapore 12 days later.
A spokesman for Carnival Australia said the vast majority of guests on board were not impacted by the outbreak.
“The vast majority of the 2000 guests on Sun Princess were unaffected but it takes relatively few cases of illness to be reported for on-board sanitation measures to be increased,” a statement provided to news outlets read.
“Creating and maintaining a healthy on-board environment is always a priority with the highest public health standards employed based on best international practice. On-board sanitation was swiftly stepped up following some guests reporting gastrointestinal symptoms confirmed as being due to Norovirus”.
Norovirus is an occasional problem on cruise ships, where maintaining good sanitation and hand-washing habits about passengers is a constant campaign.
Sun Princess suffered two gastro outbreaks two years ago when over 100 passengers fell ill.
I would like to just correct some people who have made comments that if you get the virus it’s probably due to not washing hands, may I say that is not correct of everyone, I got the virus 4days out of fremantle,and I being a retired beautician am scrupulous about washing my hands, I always use a nail brush, the virus itself, is very contagious, but the staff couldn’t do enough I will certainly cruise with Princess line again
I was on the Sun Princess (1 to 26 Nov 2019) and I caught the Norovirus. Could I just say in my defence, that my wife and I are very conscious of hygiene and always obey all hand washing rules etc. So please don’t jump to the conclusion that if you catch it, it was because you didn’t wash your hands!
I caught the virus after only 4 days onboard and wonder if it was already present before we embarked? I think I may have caught it from using the hand rails on the stairways.
Many of the Princess cruise ships have hand wash basins at the entrance of the buffet sections. I have seen people walk around this section and thereby are able to enter the buffet without washing their hands. The staff should have a stricter approach and not allow people to be able to enter the buffet without washing.
I once saw an elderly person rinsing a mug out under the urn hot water tap in the buffet area.
Passenger of over one hundred and eighty days of fabulous cruising with Princess
We’re on the Sun Princess on 23rd December. Been on it 3 times and always remember the hand washing routine. Why do people not adhere to the rules, making other passengers sick….Staff should have more power in enforcing the hand sanitiser. If people don’t like it…..get out of the buffet !
Norovirus outbreak is certainly not enjoyable for passengers and quickly ruin a vacation. Most outbreaks however are minor and the medical impact for passengers is minimal – though young passengers and older passengers may suffer longer.
I have sailed on Princess on many occasions I have never encountered any issues with the duty of care Princess provides for the passengers . The real issues are caused by the passengers not following hygienic protocols provided.On the buffet area there are sanitiser stations and crew members are encouraging people to sanitise their hands before entering, many ignore and touch the utensils and especially when they come back for a second serve having licked their fingers previously on the dinner table I have witnessed this apaling behaviour. I recommend it must be mandatory for anyone entering the Buffet area to sanitise their hands as many times they enter the buffet area.
Does anyone agree (in simple terms here) that a rule should be written in to terms and conditions and perhaps signs put up at appropriate places, stating that to enter food areas such as the buffet area, hand santizers on offer must not be refused, or no entry?
Wash yiur hands easy,staff and passengers, shiuld be mandatory…lots dont dirty grots
We have cruised on princess cruises for years among others the crew are alway there at the entrance of the buffet to remind people to use the sanitisers that are provided for their use but there are some passengers who refuse to use them then wonder why they get gastro then blame the ship and crew for their lack of hygiene .
I went on a cruise for my twin sister & my 80th
Birthdays…. we sailed out of Singapore in May this year& it was school holidays .
Welllll!!! I have never see so many freeloaders
In my life , they where absolute pigs .people would drink from there water containers & then put them under the tapin the dining. Buffet ….they need to get lessons on hygiene & manners when we complained to the person in charge they said they can’t make them obey the rules …..so what hope do you have ..
That was on Royal Caribbean out of Singapore
On the 27th of May..:” just disgusting “
It should be remembered that the holidaying public, whether it be cruising, bus tours etc., normal eating habits and choice of meals generally is different to one’s home routine, therefore the risk of food related sickness increases significantly. For instance, one may have eaten during an on shore excursion, the evening meal on board, in the event of subsequent sickness, where did the contaminated food come from? I avoided buffet’s on board and used the Dining table service.
Not first time on this ship
I get absolutely furious when people don’t use a glass to fill water bottles they just force it under the machine then wonder why everyone gets sick and a lot of older people think they have the right to pick food from the buffet tasting it I see it all the time staff should be able to kick them out of the buffet
Myself mum, and my sister, go on a lot of princess cruises, I have seen a lot of people leaving the toilet without washing their hands, and I have called out to them before they leave the toilet have you forgotten something they give you a mouth full, also they fill up their water bottles in the buffet under the water machine, when you are not ment to, and when they cough they don’t put they hand over there mouth, and I have seen people in the buffet area picking up the food with their fingers, and if they don’t want it they put it back, I have seen a lot of pigs on cruise ships, I like to see what they are like at home, have a bit of respect when you go on a cruise was your hands, so you don’t get sick
The Sun Princess norovirus story is being overdone. My wife and I were on board from Fremantle to Singapore section only,( as were many others – they did not choose to leave the ship in Singapore as was reported). The cases that arose were mainly through the fault of passengers not taking normal precautions with hand washing and in many cases arguments broke out because some passengers refused to wash their hands before eating. They should have been offloaded!
All passengers had to leave the ship in Singapore because it was the end of one leg and the start of another – NOT because of the virus. I or my wife am not connected in anyway to Princess Cruises but believe they did an excellent job.
Ron and Pauline Marlborough
9 Cann Toad Attatadao WA 6156