Gastrointestinal Outbreak Affects 154 on Cunard’s Queen Victoria Cruise Ship

A significant outbreak of a gastrointestinal disease has impacted 154 passengers and crew members aboard the Queen Victoria, a luxury cruise ship operated by Cunard. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently investigating the outbreak, which has caused symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea among those affected.

The issue first came to light on February 1, with the number of reported cases rising to include 129 passengers and 25 crew members. The figures represent the cumulative total of affected individuals since the outbreak began and not the current number of active cases.

The Queen Victoria set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 22, and is on its way to Honolulu, Hawaii, where it is scheduled to arrive on February 12. The ship, which carries 1,824 passengers and 967 crew members, has implemented stringent health and safety measures in response to the outbreak. These protocols include heightened cleaning and disinfection processes, isolation of those showing symptoms, and detailed communication with passengers and crew about the ongoing situation.

Cunard has activated its enhanced health and safety protocols to manage the outbreak effectively, emphasizing the well-being of all its guests and crew members. “Cunard confirms that a number of guests had reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness on board Queen Victoria on voyage V405 which departed Florida on [Jan. 22] and arrived in San Francisco on [Feb. 7]. They immediately activated their enhanced health and safety protocols to ensure the wellbeing of all guests and crew on board, and these measures have been effective,” the cruise line stated.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program is closely monitoring the outbreak and evaluating the ship’s response and sanitation measures. As the investigation continues, Cunard is focusing on maintaining the health and safety of everyone on board.

The Queen Victoria is currently on a 55-day global cruise itinerary, which began in Hamburg, Germany, and is set to conclude in Sydney, Australia, on March 4. This outbreak marks the second instance of a gastrointestinal illness affecting a cruise ship this year, following a similar situation on the Celebrity Constellation in January. The CDC identified norovirus as the cause of the earlier outbreak, a common factor in the majority of the 14 outbreaks reported on cruise ships last year.