Are cruise ships floating petri dishes?

Marnie Hunter, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 9:48 AM EST, Mon February 3, 2014
A fire broke out in one of two engine rooms on Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas during an October sailing that departed out of Venice. The fire was contained and extinguished. Twenty-one people were treated for smoke inhalation.
A fire broke out in one of two engine rooms on Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas during an October sailing that departed out of Venice. The fire was contained and extinguished. Twenty-one people were treated for smoke inhalation.
Schraps/ullstein bild/Getty Images/FILE
Carnival's Liberty cruise ship had an engine fire on Monday, September 7, during a scheduled port call in St. Thomas. Passengers were flown home from the island, cutting their seven-day cruise short. No one was hurt, and the company said passengers will be refunded their cruise fees.
Carnival's Liberty cruise ship had an engine fire on Monday, September 7, during a scheduled port call in St. Thomas. Passengers were flown home from the island, cutting their seven-day cruise short. No one was hurt, and the company said passengers will be refunded their cruise fees.
Carnival Cruise Lines.
The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn sits aground near Bermuda's North Channel on Tuesday, May 19. "Norwegian Dawn temporarily lost power as the ship was departing King's Wharf, Bermuda. The ship's propulsion was affected and, at which time, the vessel made contact with the channel bed. All guests and crew are safe," spokeswoman Vanessa Picariello said.
The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn sits aground near Bermuda's North Channel on Tuesday, May 19. "Norwegian Dawn temporarily lost power as the ship was departing King's Wharf, Bermuda. The ship's propulsion was affected and, at which time, the vessel made contact with the channel bed. All guests and crew are safe," spokeswoman Vanessa Picariello said.
Akil Simmons/The Royal Gazette photo via AP
Since the start of 2015, the CDC has recorded five outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness aboard cruise ships, including the latest outbreak in April on the Celebrity Infinity.
Since the start of 2015, the CDC has recorded five outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness aboard cruise ships, including the latest outbreak in April on the Celebrity Infinity.
John Hayes/Celebrity Cruises/AP
On a March 30-April 14 sailing, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Legend of the Seas reported more than 115 sick passengers and crew.
On a March 30-April 14 sailing, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Legend of the Seas reported more than 115 sick passengers and crew.
XUE LIQIANG/Xinhua/Landov
In January, more than 200 passengers and crew became ill with norovirus on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas.
In January, more than 200 passengers and crew became ill with norovirus on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas.
GARY CAMERON/Reuters/LANDOV/FILE
During a fall 2014 sailing, 158 passengers and 14 crew members became ill with norovirus on Princess Cruises' Crown Princess. The ship's passengers were also sickened during an April 2014 sailing.
During a fall 2014 sailing, 158 passengers and 14 crew members became ill with norovirus on Princess Cruises' Crown Princess. The ship's passengers were also sickened during an April 2014 sailing.
Andrea Pattaro/Getty Images/file
A federal judge ruled Carnival Cruise Lines liable and responsible for the engine fire that left the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/17/travel/carnival-cruise-triumph-problems/index.html">ill-fated Triumph cruise</a> adrift in the Gulf of Mexico in February 2013. More than 4,200 passengers endured power outages, overflowing toilets and food shortages.
A federal judge ruled Carnival Cruise Lines liable and responsible for the engine fire that left the ill-fated Triumph cruise adrift in the Gulf of Mexico in February 2013. More than 4,200 passengers endured power outages, overflowing toilets and food shortages.
U.S. COAST GUARD/Reuters/Landov
A norovirus outbreak aboard Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess sickened 181 passengers and 11 crew members during a late January 2014 sailing.
A norovirus outbreak aboard Princess Cruises' Caribbean Princess sickened 181 passengers and 11 crew members during a late January 2014 sailing.
Andy Newman/Princess Cruises/AP
Nearly 700 crew and passengers fell ill aboard Royal Caribbean's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/29/travel/royal-caribbean-illness/index.html">Explorer of the Seas</a> in January 2014. It is the highest number of sick people reported on any cruise ship in two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly 700 crew and passengers fell ill aboard Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas in January 2014. It is the highest number of sick people reported on any cruise ship in two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images/File
In 2013, the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/24/travel/luxury-cruise-inspection/index.html">Silver Shadow</a>, run by Silversea Cruises, failed a CDC health inspection over concerns about hiding food in crew cabins.
In 2013, the Silver Shadow, run by Silversea Cruises, failed a CDC health inspection over concerns about hiding food in crew cabins.
from silversea.com
On Memorial Day 2013, a fire aboard Royal Caribbean's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/28/travel/royal-caribbean-fire-response/index.html">Grandeur of the Seas</a> cut short a seven-day cruise to Port Canaveral, Florida, and the Bahamas. The ship changed its course and sailed under its own power to Freeport in the Bahamas.
On Memorial Day 2013, a fire aboard Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas cut short a seven-day cruise to Port Canaveral, Florida, and the Bahamas. The ship changed its course and sailed under its own power to Freeport in the Bahamas.
courtesy adam fine
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/14/world/americas/cruise-ship-trouble/index.html">The Carnival Dream</a>, shown here at its North American debut in November 2009, lost power in March 2013, and some of its toilets stopped working temporarily. For a time, no one was allowed to get off the vessel, docked at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, in the eastern Caribbean.
The Carnival Dream, shown here at its North American debut in November 2009, lost power in March 2013, and some of its toilets stopped working temporarily. For a time, no one was allowed to get off the vessel, docked at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, in the eastern Caribbean.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images/FILE
During a surprise visit in August 2012, CDC inspectors found multiple sanitation violations on the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/25/travel/cdc-cruise-ship/index.html?iref=allsearch">Holland America ship ms Veendam</a> (shown here in March 2012). The CDC found enough violations, including brown liquid dripping on clean dishes and a fly on the buffet, to give the Veendam a failing grade.
During a surprise visit in August 2012, CDC inspectors found multiple sanitation violations on the Holland America ship ms Veendam (shown here in March 2012). The CDC found enough violations, including brown liquid dripping on clean dishes and a fly on the buffet, to give the Veendam a failing grade.
MARCOS BRINDICCI/Reuters/Landov/FILE