Latest news with #RadianceoftheSeas
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
US updates serious travel warning for frequent cruise destination
With spring travel season well underway, the U.S. State Department just updated and reissued a serious Level 3 travel warning for a country included on a number of upcoming cruise itineraries. To help U.S. citizens get up-to-date information and advice about safety risks to consider when traveling abroad, the State Department regularly updates its advisories, which range from Level 1 — exercise normal precautions, to Level 4 — do not a Level 3 travel advisory does not state that U.S. citizens should not travel to the country, the warnings it provides certainly should be taken seriously. A Level 3 advisory recommends that travelers reconsider plans to visit a destination due to significant safety and security risks. On April 17, the State Department updated and reissued its Level 3 travel advisory for Colombia to add information on civil unrest and kidnapping occurring in the country that cruise travelers should bear in South American country's popular Cartagena cruise port is visited regularly by cruise ships sailing Panama Canal itineraries. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line all have upcoming calls to the port on ships sailing repositioning voyages through the Panama Canal before beginning new seasons of cruises from their summer home ports. Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas, for example, will visit Cartagena on April 23 after leaving its winter home port of Tampa to sail a voyage through the Panama Canal as it repositions to the West Coast ahead of its Alaska cruise season. Travelers with upcoming plans to visit Cartagena on a cruise should be aware that the State Department's reissued advisory recommends that travelers reconsider travel to Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have an increased risk. 'Violent crime, like murder, assault, and robbery, is common in many areas in Colombia. In some places, organized crime is rampant. This includes extortion, robbery, and kidnapping,' the advisory states. 'There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in Colombia.'The advisory warns that terrorists and criminal organizations in Colombia may attack with little or no warning. These attacks typically target: U.S. government facilities Local government facilities Tourist areas and attractions Transportation centers Shopping malls and markets Military and police facilities Hotels Clubs Restaurants Airports The advisory also cautions that political demonstrations are common throughout Colombia and can: Shut down roads and highways without notice or estimated reopening timelines. Lead to road closures that reduce access to public transportation. Interrupt travel within and between cities. Become violent and result in deaths and is generally considered safer for tourists than other parts of Colombia, but risks do exist and street crime does happen. To reduce your risk of being targeted by criminals when visiting Cartagena or other cruise destinations with crime warnings, it's a good idea to book shore excursions directly through your cruise passengers visiting Cartagena should make sure to follow the State Department's guidance on ways to stay safe when visiting Colombia, which include: Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans. Keep a low profile. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry. Stay aware of your surroundings. Travel only during daylight hours. It's also important to look at any information your cruise line provides and listen to the captain for any announcements. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawyer blasts Royal Caribbean for cruise ship sanitation report
With norovirus outbreaks reported on multiple cruise ships in recent weeks, it's no surprise that travelers are questioning sanitation on cruise ships. Since the start of 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported three norovirus outbreaks on Holland America Line cruise ships. Princess Cruises had one norovirus outbreak in January and Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas had one outbreak of an unknown cause in early millions of people sail on cruise ships each year without getting sick, illness can easily spread on vacations at sea since cruise ships carry a large number of passengers in a confined space. Cruise ship sanitation is an important part of preventing outbreaks, but person-to-person contact on board the ship is the most common reason people get sick. The CDC helps the cruise industry prevent and control public health issues on cruise ships through its Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP). Along with information on outbreaks, the VSP provides cruise ship passengers with tips for healthy cruising, and access to cruise ship inspection scores and reports. While cruise ship inspection reports can be a helpful resource for passengers planning a cruise, they also create opportunity for people who want to expose problems with the cruise lawyer who claims to make a living from suing cruise lines gained attention on TikTok recently for calling out Royal Caribbean for one of its recent VSP inspection reports that listed a number of violations. In the TikTok video, Spencer Aronfeld (@cruiseshiplawyer) suggests that Royal Caribbean should have canceled a sailing on Symphony of the Seas after a 'horrifying' inspection revealed 'numerous food safety and hygiene issues, including improperly stored food, raw eggs not at the correct temperature, and crew members touching ice with open wounds.''Several children also fell ill with severe gastrointestinal problems, but the daycare center failed to follow protocols in reporting these cases,' Aronfeld noted. Although Aronfeld accurately states in the video that Symphony of the Seas was one point away from failing its inspection, and many passengers would likely find the violations concerning, the lawyer may have ta it a bit too far when he suggested that Royal Caribbean should have canceled the it's important to point out that Symphony of the Seas did in fact receive a passing inspection score. It takes an 85 to pass and the ship received an 86. The VSP also requires cruise ships to correct all violations and some of the ship's violations would have been corrected immediately during the inspection. Others may take longer to correct but the cruise ship is required to follow up with a corrective action statement that describes how violations were corrected. Even if the ship had received a failing score, it probably wouldn't have received a no-sail recommendation from the VSP. 'People sometimes assume that we will recommend a ship not sail if it fails an inspection,' the CDC states in the VSP section of its website. 'However, we have rarely issued such recommendations.''We may recommend a ship not sail if there are imminent public health risks,' the CDC continues. 'Examples of such risks are: Inability to properly chlorinate potable (drinking) water. Inability to keep food within safe temperatures. Inadequate facilities for cleaning and sanitizing food equipment. Inability to properly dispose of solid or liquid waste. We may also recommend a ship not sail during an infectious disease outbreak where continuing normal operations could subject newly arriving passengers to disease.' While the VSP's public health standards are crucial guidelines cruise lines need to follow to help prevent large numbers of passengers and crew members getting sick, passengers have a role in supporting healthy cruising too. Reporting your illness if you're sick and washing your hands often are simple, but effective ways that you can help limit the spread of germs on board any cruise ship. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cruise ship carrying 169 norovirus patients docks in Florida
Video above: Cruise ship with more than 90 sick passengers docks in Tampa PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (WFLA) — A cruise ship carrying 169 passengers and crew members sick with norovirus docked in Florida on Friday. The Holland America Rotterdam docked in Port Everglades after a nearly two-week journey through the Caribbean and central America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began monitoring a norovirus outbreak on the ship on Feb. 7. The CDC report states 152 out of 2,614 passengers, or 5.8%, were sick. The illness affected 17 of 969 crew members, or 1.8%. Those affected by the illness reported experiencing vomiting and diarrhea, which was determined to be caused by norovirus. The Rotterdam outbreak is the fourth norovirus outbreak reported to the CDC this year. This comes days after a ship returned to Tampa with 168 sickened passengers and crew members. Those aboard Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas also reported experiencing diarrhea and vomiting, but the source of the illness is unknown, according to the CDC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Norovirus outbreak on cruise out of Florida sickens more than 100 people: CDC
The Brief The CDC says 107 passengers and 12 crew members onboard Holland America Line's MS Rotterdam have contracted norovirus. The ship sailed out of Port Everglades on Feb. 2. Norovirus is highly contagious, according to the CDC, and is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea in the U.S. TAMPA, Fla. - More than 100 passengers and crew onboard a cruise ship that sailed out of Florida have gotten sick with norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By the numbers The CDC says Holland America Line's MS Rotterdam embarked on a 12-day voyage from Port Everglades on Feb. 2. The latest numbers show 107 of the ship's 2,614 passengers and 12 of the 969 crew members have contracted norovirus. In response, Holland America told the CDC that it's increasing cleaning and disinfecting, while isolating infected passengers and crew to help prevent further spread. READ: Florida 'brothel' allegedly run by illegal immigrants shut down after victim's desperate phone call Big picture view Norovirus is also referred to as the "stomach flu" or the "stomach bug," but is not related to the flu, according to the CDC. It's highly contagious and is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, along with foodborne illness, in the U.S. The federal agency says more than half of norovirus outbreaks have been linked to restaurants or other food-related environments, and can happen when people who are infected come into contact with food or drinks. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Dig deeper So far in 2025, seven cruise ships sailing out of the U.S. have reported outbreaks of illness to the CDC. Just last week, Royal Caribbean reported the spread of a gastrointestinal illness onboard the Radiance of the Seas, which sailed out of Tampa. As of Tuesday, the final number of cases reported to the CDC totaled 160 passengers and eight crew members. The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Regina Gonzalez. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
The Independent
12-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Over 100 fall ill after norovirus outbreak on cruise ship
More than 100 passengers are sick on a Holland America Line cruise following a norovirus outbreak. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the liner currently has 107 sick guests and 12 sick crew members on its current voyage. Reported symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea. Rotterdam departed Fort Lauderdale in Florida on 2 February on a 12-night Panama Canal Sunfarer cruise with 2,614 guests and 969 crew on board. The itinerary includes stops in Aruba, Bahamas, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Jamaica. The outbreak was reported to the CDC on 7 February, with more than five per cent of passengers and crew reporting gastrointestinal symptoms. According to the health agency, affected passengers and crew have been isolated, stool samples have been collected for testing and increased cleaning and disinfection procedures have been introduced. A spokesperson for Holland America, which is owned by Carnival Corporation, told USA Today that the 'cases were mostly mild and quickly resolved.' 'We initiated enhanced sanitation protocols in conjunction with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to minimise further transmission, including continuous disinfection of the ship.' The outbreak marks the second such incident on the Rotterdam, which witnessed a similar outbreak in December 2024 when 83 passengers and 12 crew were reported ill. The incident comes just days after 90 passengers and crew on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the Gulf of Mexico all fell sick with a similar gastrointestinal illness. Radiance of the Seas departed Tampa, Florida, on 8 February for a seven-day cruise around the western Caribbean, with planned stops in Mexico, Honduras and Belize. The outbreak was reported to the CDC. The US -based health agency classified 2024 as the worst year for stomach illness outbreaks on cruise ships in over a decade as norovirus cases surged in the US. In a single month, 890 cases of stomach illness occurred across five recorded outbreaks. In December, the CDC released its annual Vessel Sanitation Programme list of the dirtiest ships in the past 12 months. Ships were given a score out of 100 based on a number of factors from the cleanliness of the pools and hot tubs to the findings of vermin and roaches. Nine ships failed to score a 90 or above, a figure that included three Carnival cruise ships. Ships with a score of below 85 were listed as 'non-satisfactory'.
