How Cruise Lines Keep Passengers Healthy
In the U.S., the risk of getting Norovirus each year is about one in 15, but a cruise passenger has about a one in 5,500 risk of getting laboratory confirmed Norovirus during a shipboard outbreak. In recent weeks, several cases of large numbers of passengers falling ill on cruise ships have made headlines globally, and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has highlighted the industry’s top five best practices for keeping passengers and crew healthy.
Sanitation
Trained crewmembers regularly clean and sanitize the ship. Cabins are cleaned at least once a day, and common areas such as restaurants, snack areas, pools and elevators are cleaned throughout the day. At the end of every cruise, crew clean the ship from top to bottom using designated cleaning supplies and sanitation procedures.
Screening
The importance of early detection cannot be understated, which is why the cruise industry implements pre-boarding health screenings. These screenings along with a health questionnaire help identify ill passengers or crewmembers prior to boarding by indicating if they or their traveling companions have had recent symptoms of illness. Passengers who may be ill are assessed by medical staff before they interact with other guests.
Medical Facilities
CLIA Cruise Lines and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) developed and implemented guidelines on cruise ship medical facilities. The ACEP Guidelines (2014), mandatory for all CLIA oceangoing cruise line members, address the facilities, staffing, equipment and procedures for medical infirmaries on cruise ships.
Collaboration
Cruise lines work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) in a comprehensive effort to employ preventative practices to achieve the highest standards of public health on board cruise ships. The VSP provides a level of federal scrutiny and transparency for cruise line sanitation that's unique in the travel and hospitality industry. There is no similar federal program for hotels, airlines or restaurants.
Training
Onboard staff must be trained in first aid and public health practices. Regardless of a crewmember’s job on board, they are trained in safety and first aid procedures, such as emergency procedures, signals and alarms; evacuation procedures; and fire prevention and fire safety.
Results
To evaluate the effectiveness of such best practices, public health officers from the CDC make at least two unannounced inspections each year on cruise ships calling on U.S. ports. The public can access the inspection score of every ship. During these routine inspections, CLIA Cruise Line Members often earn perfect scores.