Gastrointestinal Outbreak Strikes Diamond Princess and Crown Princess During Australian Cruises
Aboard the Diamond Princess and Crown Princess, two Princess Cruises ships currently sailing Australian waters, passengers have been grappling with an unsettling reality: gastrointestinal outbreaks that have interrupted their vacations. Both vessels, with thousands of guests and crew, are battling a norovirus-related illness that has led to multiple deep cleanings and passenger evacuations. For those on the Diamond Princess, the disembarkations for cleaning came three times over the course of a 21-night New Zealand cruise, creating significant disruptions for vacationers. Passengers have shared their frustration online, citing long delays, overcrowded reboarding lines, and insufficient compensation. As health protocols ramp up, both ships continue to sail, leaving some to wonder if this is the new normal for cruise travel.
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Gastrointestinal Outbreak on Diamond Princess
The Diamond Princess, a Grand-class cruise ship, was struck by a gastrointestinal outbreak during its 21-night New Zealand cruise, which wraps up in Adelaide on November 17, 2024. Passengers reported being forced to vacate the ship on three separate occasions—twice in Melbourne and once in Auckland—to allow for deep cleaning. While the exact cause of the illness has not been confirmed, many suspect norovirus, a common pathogen responsible for similar outbreaks on cruise ships.
Frustrated passengers have taken to online forums to complain, although an equal number have leapt to Princess’ defense. The cruise line offered a modest $50 onboard credit each time guests were asked to leave the ship, which many felt was insufficient for the inconvenience.
Crown Princess Battles Second Outbreak
As if one outbreak wasn’t enough, the Crown Princess—another ship in the Princess fleet —has also been battling a gastrointestinal illness during its voyage through Australia. On November 14, 2024, guests were asked to disembark in Darwin to allow for a deep cleaning process similar to the one experienced on the Diamond Princess.
Princess Cruises issued a letter to guests recommending they explore the port of Darwin while cleaning crews sanitized all areas of the ship, including staterooms. Though the specific number of sick passengers has not been disclosed, the repeated deep cleanings suggest a significant number of guests have been affected. Like the Diamond Princess, no official details on the pathogen have been released, but norovirus remains the primary suspect.
Lessons Learned and Future Precautions
While outbreaks are a known risk on cruise ships, they rarely reach the scale of what passengers are experiencing on these two Princess vessels. Perhaps the most famous example actually occurred on the Diamond Princess four years ago, when passengers were forced to quarantine off the shores of Japan during the COVID-19 epidemic. More recently, the Sapphire Princess experienced a small-scale outbreak earlier this year, affecting 3.71% of guests.
Princess Cruises has instituted strict health protocols in response to the outbreaks. Guests who show symptoms are asked to isolate in their staterooms, and the crew has heightened sanitation measures, such as serving buffet meals to guests rather than allowing self-service. In addition, high-touch surfaces are being cleaned more frequently, and guests are encouraged to wear masks and wash their hands regularly.
Despite these incidents, the vast majority of cruise passengers are not be impacted. Outbreaks are usually contained swiftly, with most passengers unaffected. However, the severity of the Diamond Princess and Crown Princess incidents underscores the challenges cruise lines face in maintaining a healthy environment when such illnesses arise.
