Holland America Maasdam: Passengers Claim to be Sick with Norovirus on Cruise Ship

Yet another cruise ship may have had a norovirus outbreak. At least two passengers on the Holland American Line Maasdam have told Cruise Law News that they are sick with the illness on the ship.

Passengers told Cruise Law News that several passengers are sick with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms of norovirus. However an exact number of how many sick passengers there are had not been released to the passengers or to the media. Holland America and parent company Carnival has not confirmed the outbreak, but passengers claim the illness is spreading.

"MS Maasdam has been fighting NOROVIRUS pretty much most of the cruise from Rio to Ft Lauderdale. RED ALERT," one passenger told Cruise Law News. "Capt won't release numbers but for for [sic] past week has said new people keep reporting illness," the passenger added.

Another passenger went into more detail, saying "I am on the sick Holland America Maasdam which has had Noro virus ever since the departing Rio and won't be scheduled to be back in Fort Lauderdale until the end of the month. I'm getting tired of hearing the Captain blame the passengers for the spread of the disease. As a physician, I've clearly noted that the disease is passed by vectors such as cruise cards, bar staff and wait staff never washing their hands, and the tables and chairs being cleaned with the same rag. Captain it's not the passengers its your staff."

According to Cruise Law News, the Maasdam is on a 26-day cruise that left from Rio de Janeiro on March 2nd. The cruise is supposed to end on March 28th in Fort Lauderdale.