Less than a week after the last reported Norovirus outbreak aboard Crown Princess, a further 114 passengers and 59 crew have contracted a gastrointestinal illness believed to be the same bug.
Princess Cruises will cut short the current week-long voyage with the ship returning to Fort Lauderdale tomorrow instead of Saturday to undergo a two day intensive sanitisation process, in line with the regulations set by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cruise Critic reports that all passengers affected will receive a full refund for the cruise along with any change fees incurred if flights were booked externally to Princess Cruises. Passengers will also receive complimentary hotel accommodation if required and a 25 per cent discount on a future cruise.
The CDC oversaw the sanitisation of the ship on 4 February when Crown Princess departed six hours later than scheduled following 364 passengers and 168 crew contracting what was believed to be Norovirus on its last voyage.
Princess Cruises has stated that they will arrange additional cleaning crews to thoroughly sanitise all public areas and surfaces.
“Additionally, once all of the passengers have disembarked on Thursday morning, all bed linens and towels will be removed from every stateroom. The staterooms will be sanitized multiple times before making up the rooms with fresh linens and towels on Saturday morning, just prior to passenger embarkation,” the cruise line said in a statement to Cruise Critic.
