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11th January 2019
05:58pm GMT
A Royal Carribbean Cruise has been cut short after more than 270 passengers and crew members contracted a gastrointestinal virus on board.
The trip through the Carribbean started on Sunday and will return to Florida a day ahead of schedule after the 'Norovirus' began to spread as early as Tuesday.
Earlier in the week, passengers were not allowed to disembark the ship for fear of spreading the contagious disease which has similar symptoms to food poisoning and the flu.
However, according to some passengers - bars and restaurants on the ship closed as per schedule, making for a rather uncomfortable experience for all on board.
One Twitter user wrote:
'Stuck on oasis in Falmouth. Here’s a serious tip. Have a contingency plan for how to treat this like a sea day when this happens. Most restaurants and bars closed when they need to be open. Long lines and unhappy crowds which could have been prevented.'
@RoyalCaribbean stuck on oasis in Falmouth. Here’s a serious tip. Have a contingency plan for how to treat this like a sea day when this happens. Most restaurants and bars closed when they need to be open. Long lines and unhappy crowds which could have been prevented.
— FishinFool (@FishinFool) January 9, 2019
Another wrote:
'Currently watching people at the pool bar opening new bottles of Pepto Bismol - not a single crew member saying anything! Very very little communication or any insight on what is to come!
Sitting in port at Falmouth Jamaica due to some passengers having the NoroVirus. Jamaican Port Authority will not let us off the ship and The Oasis of The Sea is not communicating well with passengers. We are on standby. ????@RoyalCaribbean
— Nishell (@Miss_Nishelly) January 9, 2019
@RoyalCaribbean the staff and crew of the #OasisOfTheSeas have been nothing short of spectacular during the norovirus outbreak. I’m very impressed with the sanitation procedures that have been implemented. If passengers would just wash their hands this all could’ve been avoided.
— Jake Tosh (@JakeTosh1) January 11, 2019
Letter from Royal Caribbean explaining change of plans. pic.twitter.com/oZQSAfNz9u
— Alan Thomas (@alan_thomas13) January 10, 2019
While many of the tweets are from despairing passengers, others commended staff for their hard work containing the virus.
Exceptional food handling and disinfecting procedures implemented. Surfaces in guest areas being disinfected multiple times per day. Self serve tongs are done, crew serving all food and drinks to avoid transfer between guests. pic.twitter.com/H6TQzeUyzl
— Alan Thomas (@alan_thomas13) January 10, 2019
Royal Caribbean doing everything they can to contain the Norovirus outbreak #allhands pic.twitter.com/fquZnGn6sV
— Alan Thomas (@alan_thomas13) January 10, 2019
In a 2018 interview with Business Insider, Royal Carribbean CEO Michael Bayley said that the environment on a cruise ship makes the space the perfect breeding ground for the virus to spread.
But he did offer one tip for stopping to the common virus before it can spread - and it's pretty simple.
Wash your hands.
"The simple fact is that if people washed their hands, there would be no norovirus."
Pretty grim.
