Maritime News

After a month-long outbreak of stomach illness, the Celebrity Mercury set sail from its homeport of Charleston and is travelling through the Gulf of Mexico on its way to the Caribbean.

 
The 1,870 passenger cruise ship has been plagued with three consecutive outbreaks of the norovirus among its passengers. Norovirus is a highly contagious, non-fatal stomach illness that causes nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Unfortunately for the victims, these symptoms make a trip memorable in the wrong way.

 
The last voyage of the Mercury ended early after 406 or 22% of the passengers on the ship reported gastrointestinal symptoms. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued a rare “no sail” recommendation for the ship. This is the largest outbreak of the virus recorded on a cruise ship.

 
Celebrity Cruise Lines believes that passengers are bringing the disease on board the ship. South Carolina has experience a higher than normal number of norovirus cases. 

 
The ship has undergone a top-to-bottom deep cleaning and disinfecting. Cruise company representatives say it is now safe for passengers to sail.

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