The ongoing situation is under the watchful eye of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, which is conducting a remote evaluation of the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation processes.
In a recent development that has raised concerns within the travel and hospitality industry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a significant outbreak of gastrointestinal illness aboard the Queen Victoria cruise ship. The vessel, operated by Cunard Cruise Line, embarked on a three-week journey from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 22, only to encounter health challenges among its occupants.
As of the latest update, the outbreak has impacted 139 individuals, including 123 passengers and 16 crew members. The CDC has clarified that these figures represent the total reported cases throughout the voyage and are not indicative of the current number of active cases. Symptoms predominantly reported include diarrhea and vomiting, with the exact cause of the outbreak still under investigation.
The Queen Victoria is a notable presence on the seas, hosting 1,824 passengers and 967 crew members for this specific journey. In response to the outbreak, the Cunard Cruise Line has taken immediate action, isolating those affected and intensifying cleaning and disinfection practices in alignment with the ship’s outbreak prevention and response strategy.
Cunard has issued a statement acknowledging the illness reports and emphasized the swift activation of enhanced health and safety protocols to safeguard all individuals onboard. The cruise line has expressed confidence in the effectiveness of these measures.
This incident comes amid heightened attention to health and safety protocols in the cruise industry, a sector that is no stranger to managing outbreaks.
The Queen Victoria’s itinerary includes a stop in San Francisco before concluding its voyage in Honolulu on February 12. This event underscores the critical importance of stringent health and safety measures in the cruise sector and the industry’s capacity to respond to health emergencies. Industry professionals are closely monitoring the situation, as the well-being of passengers and crew remains a top priority.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
