Investigation Update on the Norwegian Crown

Investigation Update - March 28, 2005

Norwegian Cruise Line reported an increased number of cases of gastrointestinal (GI) illness on the cruise ship, Norwegian Crown, for the 14 day voyage completed on March 28, 2005, (sailing dates: 03/13 - 03/28/2005) in Miami, FL.

On March 27, 2005, Norwegian Cruise Line contacted CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) staff to report that an elevated number of Norwegian Crown passengers and crew members were experiencing GI illness. On March 28, the ship’s medical staff reported that 60 of 1014 (5.92%) passengers and 4 of 528 (0.75%) crew members were ill. The predominant symptom was diarrhea.

The ship's staff implemented additional cleaning and disinfection procedures. Stool specimens were collected but the causative agent is unknown. Medical staff continued to monitor gastrointestinal illness cases; by the following voyage the number of reported cases returned to expected levels.