Norovirus outbreak on Velocean

[Bookworm11]

On my 1/8-1/16 cruise on the Velocean, there was a Norovirus outbreak. 6 of the 21 of us on board got very ill. The worst problem-THEY NEVER TOLD US or TOOK ANY PREVENTIVE MEASURES!!!! I've been on many, many cruise ships including ones with Noro outbreaks and never got sick. I was ill the entire second half of the trip, and missed diving entirely the last day, and 2 dives the last day. My illness persisted throughout my entire Indonesian trip, and has continued still while back here in the US. It's rare, but sometimes the virus stays in your stomach and keeps causing problems. I've lost over 20 pounds. I'm still very tired and need sleep and I am only able to see my doctor today. Im still on a restricted diet. This isnt what you expect from an extremely expensive trip!!!! I had no response from the ship after I wrote my review 2/1 at all. I only heard from them AFTER the trip organizer told them I had a bad experience on board. Even then, Ive had a very brief email and nothing of substance. Had the Velocean told us, I easily could have avoided becoming sick as all I needed to do was wash my hands all the time and they have hand sanitizer available.
I only found out because the Velocean owners told the trip organizer yesterday morning, who told me. The trip organizer said there have been breakouts on the other liveaboards there as well.

 

[Dan]

I’m sorry to hear you got sick on the trip. Some of us (including me) in our 1/15-1/24 trip, crossing from Sorong to Kaimana (Misool-Triton Bay) were also had stomach problem. I was having cold sweat, almost passed out (had to lay down on the floor) from bloated tummy on the 1st day & then had runs (liquid discharges) for 3-4 days. Luckily it wasn’t bad to miss any dives.

 

[MB NZ]

I had norovirus at New Year. Horrible! 12 hours intense nausea and vomiting, 24 hours sleeping interrupted by more vomiting, a week of feeling pretty rough and another week to come right. Not recommended!

 

[chillyinCanada]

How do you know that it is Norovirus and not something else?

 

[Bookworm11]

The Velocean told the trip organizer. Our trip was a charter by my local dive shop. The dive shop owner had correspondence from them stating it was norovirus and saying other boats were having problems as well. I just found out it was Norovirus on February 11, which was a month after I initially became ill.Please understand I am not faulting them for having a virus outbreak (I've been on a number of cruises where there were outbreaks-at least 4, maybe 6), just for not informing us and setting up precautions such as hand sanitizer in the eating area and the living area. Considering the cost of getting there, and the cost of the yacht trip (for me as a single, over $7500), and that it promotes itself as the most luxurious liveaboard in Indonesia, I don't think that was too much to ask.

 

[rmorgan]

One note of caution: ethanol sanitizers are largely ineffective against norovirus.

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

@Bookworm11 This is terrible to hear. I'm familiar with your efforts leading up to this Indonesia trip. All the stuff you went through and then to have what occurred on the Velocean is terrible misfortune.

 

[Cali_diver]

It is going around Bali/( and Australia from tourists returning from Indo) right now with a vengeance. It is so difficult on LOBs because people just don't want to admit they are sick. We have heard so many excuses from travelers when it is obvious they are ill. I think my favorite was "a cheese allergy". Norovirus can stay contagious for 2 weeks after symptoms go away. They say you shouldn't even sleep in the same bed with someone who has had it so you can see how it would ravage a community. Sorry you had to go through it

 

[PamelaH]

I'm sorry you got so sick.

As someone else stated, alcohol based hand sanitizers don't help against norovirus. It's a great practice to wash your hands frequently with soap and water any time you are in close quarters. Norovirus lives on surfaces so it spreads really easily.

I'm about to get on an LOB and just hope I don't have an issue.

 

[Bookworm11]

On the up side of this, I had an absolutely wonderful time at my land resort, Dive into Raja Ampat, with top notch diving. They have 15 DMs on staff. While I was there, I saw everyone either had their own DM, or groups of 2 had their own. Lucky me, I had my own!! I had wonderful, wonderful manta time and lots of other great stuff. Then I have 5 great days in a super hotel in Ubud, and 4 days in Sanur, with 3 lovely dives in Painaing -sp? Bay, again with my DM. When I'm feeling human again, I will post an extended trip report. And I did get to snorkel with dolphins for an hour and swim in the freshwater lake full of jellyfish and see the heart shaped lagoon, all of which were awesome ( especially the dolphins), so it wasn't all gloom.