CALLAO, PERU – A luxury cruise vacation turned sour for many passengers aboard the Silversea’s Silver Nova, as a gastrointestinal virus outbreak led to a significant number of them spending their holidays in the ship’s restrooms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the incident on Monday.
The Silver Nova, which set off on a 16-day Easter-themed cruise from Callao, Peru, had 633 passengers on board. Among them, 28 passengers and one crew member fell victim to the virus, exhibiting the primary symptom of diarrhea.
The CDC is yet to determine the exact cause of the outbreak. However, they have noted that such incidents are often linked to the consumption of contaminated food or water, which typically leads to noroviruses.
The Silver Nova, introduced in 2023, is the latest addition to the Silversea fleet. It offers a luxurious experience to its guests with a butler service for each suite and a crew member for every 1.3 guests. The company prides itself on providing “outstanding gastronomy”, with “Top Chef’s” Nina Compton joining its staff last year and offering personal cooking lessons to passengers.
In response to the outbreak, the CDC reported that sick passengers were quarantined in their rooms. Other passengers were informed of the situation, and the crew members ramped up cleaning and disinfection procedures to control the spread of the virus.
A spokesperson for Silversea Cruises assured that the health and safety of their guests, crew, and the communities they visit are their top priority. The voyage, which concluded on April 16, had prices starting at $11,700 for a double-occupancy room.
This is not the first outbreak on a Silversea cruise this year. The New York Post reported that this is the fourth incident, with one previous outbreak resulting in 130 people suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, and another leading to 104 passengers falling ill on a Holland America liner.