More than 3,000 passengers on a cruise ship were left disappointed after a gastrointestinal illness outbreak onboard led to the vessel being denied entry into Grand Turk, its final scheduled stop on a week-long journey, reports Marine Insight.
Sudden Outbreak
On May 23, authorities in Turks and Caicos denied port entry to a cruise ship after reviewing its Maritime Health Declaration. The declaration, submitted on May 21 around 4:10 p.m., reported that approximately 50 people onboard were exhibiting symptoms of illness, ranging from flu-like signs to acute gastroenteritis.
The cruise ship was on a 7-night itinerary, having already called at Princess Cays, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Its final scheduled stop was Grand Turk before returning to Fort Lauderdale. However, upon reviewing the health declaration, local health officials determined that allowing the ship to dock posed a public health risk. Their primary concern was the potential for ill tourists to interact freely with residents in public areas such as beaches, shops, and restaurants, thereby spreading the illness ashore.
To prevent any potential outbreak within the local community, port entry was denied. While some guests expressed frustration at missing the Grand Turk stop, others understood and acknowledged the health concerns. Passengers shared online that the ship’s captain attempted to negotiate with local authorities but was ultimately unsuccessful in securing permission to dock.
Passengers Frustrated
Passengers aboard the affected cruise ship took to social media to share details of the unfolding situation. One passenger reported that self-service buffet stations had been discontinued, with crew members now serving all food, and strict handwashing protocols were rigorously enforced. These measures are standard operating procedures for cruise lines in response to gastrointestinal outbreaks, often complemented by isolating ill guests and collecting samples for testing to identify the pathogen.
Despite these efforts, some guests expressed frustration regarding fellow travelers who did not adhere to handwashing guidelines, even after receiving warnings. One particularly disappointed passenger stated they had specifically booked the cruise for the Grand Turk stop and felt extremely let down by the denial of port entry.
This incident marks the second gastrointestinal illness outbreak on a ship from the same cruise line within a single week, and the third across multiple cruise companies in recent days. The illness on this particular ship began to spread earlier in the week, during the second segment of its back-to-back voyages, with the current leg having commenced on May 17 after the original cruise started on May 10.
As the outbreak intensified, the cruise line proactively sent an email notification to guests scheduled to board on May 24. The email informed them of a delay in embarkation to facilitate enhanced disinfection procedures. The cruise line clarified that a small number of passengers had reported gastrointestinal symptoms and assured guests that they were working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to thoroughly sanitize the ship before the next group of passengers boarded. They also adjusted check-in times and advised guests against arriving early due to limited terminal space.
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Source: Marine Insight
