More than 100 sickened in norovirus outbreak aboard Caribbean Princess cruise

Even after more than 100 passengers and crew members fell ill during a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, passenger Jan van Milligen said life on board still seemed surprisingly normal.

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“The normal atmosphere is still there,” van Milligen, who spent the last 21 days on the ship with relatives and friends from South Africa, told NBC News on Saturday. “We went to a show last night, had dinner and breakfast this morning.”

The outbreak sickened 102 of the ship’s 3,116 passengers and 13 crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The predominant symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea, and the agency cited norovirus as the cause.

The CDC said the outbreak was reported Thursday during the ship’s voyage through the Caribbean, April 28 to May 11.

As of Saturday afternoon, the ship was north of the Dominican Republic en route to Nassau in the Bahamas, according to CruiseMapper.

Princess Cruises said “a limited number of people reported mild gastrointestinal illness” during the trip from Port Everglades in Florida.

“We quickly disinfected every area of ​​the ship and added additional disinfection throughout the voyage,” the company said in a statement. “Upon arrival at Port Canaveral on May 11, the Caribbean Princess will undergo a thorough cleaning and disinfection before departing on its next voyage.”

The cruise line said it implemented enhanced sanitation procedures, while the CDC said sick passengers and crew members were isolated and stool samples were collected for testing.

Van Milligen took note of the stricter health measures on board.

“The cruise line took every precaution to stop the spread,” he said by email, adding that “they were very professional” and passengers were informed of the situation in a timely manner.

Among the changes he noticed were passengers becoming more careful about hygiene, including washing their hands more frequently. Passengers were also no longer allowed to help themselves from the buffet, he said.

Another passenger on board, Donna Leonte of Florida, said she boarded the ship in Fort Lauderdale on April 28 with her husband and four friends to celebrate her 21st wedding anniversary.

“We’re fine. Safety measures are in place but nothing life-threatening,” Leonte told NBC News Saturday afternoon.

Said also noticed the increased sanitation efforts across the ship.

“The carwash stations are staffed so people don’t pass them up and Purell disinfectants are everywhere,” she said.

She said passengers continued to participate in onboard activities despite the outbreak.

“People need to be attentive and take precautions. We don’t miss any activities,” she said.

Like van Milligen, Leonte said the way the buffet operates has changed.

“The buffet is well equipped and they hand out dishes, utensils and food,” she said. “They do a great job.”

Similar protocols were implemented in March after more than 150 people aboard another Princess Cruises ship touring the Caribbean also fell ill with norovirus.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that typically causes vomiting and diarrhea and can spread quickly in close proximity, including on cruise ships, according to the CDC. Cruise lines are required to report outbreaks to the agency when at least 3% of passengers or crew report gastrointestinal symptoms.