Investigation Update on the Zenith

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Ship: Zenith

Voyage Dates: 4/2-4/13

Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers: 89 of 1363 (6.53%)

Number of ill crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew: 11 of 613 (1.79%)

Predominant symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Celebrity Cruises and the crew aboard the ship took the following actions:

• increased cleaning and disinfection procedures,
• sent daily updates to CDC and until the number of ill people returned to expected levels,
• sent environmental health staff to the ship for additional support,
• notified passengers aboard the ship,
• notified travel agents to tell oncoming passengers,
• conducted additional cleaning and disinfection procedures onboard the ship and in the terminal and buses between voyages,
• collected stool specimens for analysis.

On April 13th, VSP staff boarded the ship in Tampa; they conducted a targeted environmental investigation and made recommendations. By the following voyage, the number of ill people had decreased; after April 28th, the ship was no longer sailing in the U.S. and not under the jurisdiction of VSP.