My concern is the stories of unsanitary conditions and the spread of
various virus type illnesses. The occasional failure of ship's systems or
fire doesn't bother me much but the seeming regular stories of ships
returning to port with a few hundred ill passengers bothers me.

Am I overly concerned?


I don't think it's possible to be overly concerned when it comes to the
possibility of puking for a week straight. The Norwalk virus is clearly a
problem for the cruise industry. I don't have an explanation for it, but it
seems as though all the Norwalk stories you read pertain to Caribbean
cruises that sail from southern Florida. I've never read about a Norwalk
incident that was on an Alaskan cruise that sailed from Seattle or
Vancouver, or a New England cruise for that matter.. That may not be 100%
factual, but it's my observation.

At any rate, the key is to religiously wash you hands with disinfectant.
Cruise ships now have waterless disinfectant hand washing stations all over
the ship. In fact everyone is required to use one at boarding. But
obviously, when there's a serious outbreak, it's difficult to contain. And
as I understand it, the source of the virus isn't from unsanitary practices
of the ship and crew per se, but rather the virus is always brought aboard
by fellow passengers. Not that it really matter where you got it from once
you've got it. It's a risk in all forms of public travel I guess. Sort of
like sitting on a plane next to a guy with a deadly form of TB. Yowsers.