Here is information to help you determine the best cruise lines in the world.

• Each year millions of U.S. citizens enjoy cruise vacations. In 2005, approximately 9.8 million passengers embarked from North American ports for their cruise vacation. Traveling on cruise ships exposes people to new environments and high volumes of people, including other travelers. Although an infrequent occurrence, this exposure creates the risk for illness, either from contaminated food, water or more commonly through person to person contact. Follow these tips to help prevent the spread of illness:
• 1. Wash your hands!
  • Before and after
    • eating,
    • smoking,
  • After
    • touching your face,
    • going to the bathroom
  • When your hands are dirty.
• Learn more about handwashing techniques.
• 2. Leave the area if you see someone get sick (vomiting or diarrhea).
• Report to cruise staff, if not already notified.
• You could become sick if you ingest contaminated particles that travel through the air.
• 3. Take care of yourself.
• Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water. Resting helps rebuild your immune system. Drinking water helps prevents dehydration.
• 4. Be considerate of other people’s health.
• If you’re ill before taking a cruise, call the cruise line to determine if there are alternative cruising options.

• Cruise ship updates are posted when they include the following criteria:
  • fall within the purview of VSP
  • are sailing on voyages from 3-21 days,
  • are carrying 100 or more passengers, and
  • are cruise ships in which 3% or more of passengers or crew reported symptoms of diarrheal disease to the ships medical staff during the voyage, and
  • are gastrointestinal illness outbreaks of public health significance.
• CDC has not verified all of the case numbers represented in the following updates.

  2007

  Cruise Line	Cruise Ship	Sailing Dates	Causative Agent
  Norwegian Cruise Line	Norwegian Pearl	4/13-4/22	Specimens not obtained
  Holland America	Volendam	4/12-4/22	Specimens not obtained
  Regent Seven Seas Cruises	Seven Seas Navigator	4/5-4/16	Norovirus
  Celebrity Cruises	Zenith	4/2-4/13	Norovirus
  Majestic America Line	Empress of the North	3/16-3/21	Norovirus
  Princess Cruises	Regal Princess	3/13-3/25	Unknown
  Regent Seven Seas Cruises	Seven Seas Mariner	2/25-3/9	Pending
  Holland America	Ryndam	3/3-3/13	Norovirus
  		2/21-3/3	Norovirus
  		1/22-2/21	Norovirus
  Holland America Line	Westerdam	2/2-2/11	Norovirus
  Princess Cruises	Island Princess	1/26-2/10	Pending
  Cruise West	Spirit of Nantucket	1/27-2/3	Pending
  Holland America Line	Volendam	1/22-2/1	Pending
  Cunard Line	Queen Elizabeth 2	1/8-1/22	Norovirus