Despite our best efforts to stay healthy, both DH and I have been afflicted by Norovirus on cruise ships. Thankfully, we weren't sick on the same vessel at the same time. I vomited in an elevator and had to report the incident and illness to medical personnel. I was quarantined in our stateroom for 24 hours (on my birthday and one of the formal nights on the cruise). DH was allowed to come and go as he pleased but was advised to avoid the buffet and wash his hands frequently.
Hazmat team cleaned our stateroom during the 24 hour period as regular steward was not permitted in the room so he didn't contract the illness. I was placed on a special diet with food delivered by someone wearing protective gear. Nurse took my temperature twice during the day and advised me to take Advil and Immodium as needed. I always have these when traveling and didn't have to pay for scripts onboard. I felt better in the evening but was ordered to remain in the stateroom. I read, did word puzzles, watched TV, so the time passed quickly. I was released from quarantine after the 24 hour period with temperature back to normal and no vomiting or diarrhea for 18 hours. During that cruise, there were 30-40 cases of Norovirus but no special precautions were taken for all passengers.
On the cruise during which DH became ill, one of my sisters was also stricken with Norovirus late in the voyage. Many passengers were ill, and special precautions were taken to curb the spread of the virus. Passengers were reminded to wash hands frequently, and no one was allowed to enter a dining venue without using hand sanitizer at the entrance. In main dining venues, salt & pepper shakers were available upon request, and bread/rolls were doled out instead of being left on tables, no flower vases, etc. Crew members were constantly wiping handrails and elevator buttons, pools were closed, passengers were asked to avoid using public restrooms, etc. Since they became ill on the final day of the cruise, my husband and sister self-quarantined because neither felt well enough to navigate the ship. We had also learned that anyone who was known to be sick would be detained onboard while healthy passengers disembarked. We did not want to risk missing flights, and there really wasn't much that medical personnel could do with so many ill people (including crew members) onboard. The ship was completely sanitized prior to the next voyage with embarkation of new passengers delayed several hours.
Since our episodes of Norovirus, DH and I avoid the buffet at all costs and wash our hands frequently. We carry surgical gloves and wear them if we hear anything about illness onboard. We get :stormingmad: when we witness passengers not washing hands or refusing hand sanitizer in dining venues. It also bothers us when we see crew members who are obviously not well but won't report their illness because they might lose pay and/or shore privileges. So far, the ship we're sailing in two weeks hasn't had major Noro outbreaks this season, and we hope the ship remains free of the nasty virus.
Bon Voyage!