Ruby Princess

Ruby Princess is back in the cruise news. Do you remember her? Jean Hudson reports on the latest challenge Ruby P and her guests have had to face and tells us ‘How to Stay Healthy at Sea’.

Remember the Ruby Princess? Back in March 2020, she arrived in Sydney early on in the pandemic with 2,651 passengers aboard after an 11-day cruise to New Zealand. Many of her passengers were ill and judged ‘low risk’ and allowed to disembark and return home before test results had been returned. Twenty-eight of her passengers sadly died and more than 600 became infected with COVID-19, making her one of the infamous vessels of the early pandemic.

The Ruby Princess is back in the headlines once again. This time it’s norovirus, not COVID-19, but with a ship with the nickname ‘plague ship’ following the 2020 disaster, it’s all becoming uncomfortably familiar.

The outbreak occurred during a 20-day round trip from San Francisco to Alaska, earlier this month; with 102 of 3,032 passengers and 23 of 1144 crew members reporting gastrointestinal illness. Those affected reported vomiting and diarrhoea, prompting enhanced cleaning, isolation and monitoring. This was the third reported norovirus outbreak on a Princess Cruises ship in 2026 alone, more than any other cruise line. There were two other outbreaks on other cruise ships.

Norovirus remains the industry’s persistent problem. The highly contagious stomach bug usually develops within 12-48 hours after exposure. The virus can survive on surfaces for days or weeks and spreads easily through contaminated surfaces or food – making buffets and communal spaces onboard hotspots.

How to Stay Well While Cruising

It’s that time of the year (June and July) when no cruise ships visit Fremantle, but those who cruise, are booking cruises and looking forward to trips around Australia and new far-flung places. And the current Kimberley cruise season is as busy as ever.

Here a few tips on how to stay well while cruising:

• Wash your hands properly and often – good old soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after using the bathroom.

• Hand sanitizer alone doesn’t kill norovirus effectively.

• Be cautious at buffets – use tongs and serving utensils rather than your hands. Get to buffet early or dine a la carte.

• Avoid touching communal surfaces like toilet door handles, hand rails and elevator buttons unnecessarily.

• Report symptoms immediately – early isolation protects everyone else on board.

• Pack basic supplies: disinfectant wipes for cabin surfaces and personal hand sanitizer.

The next cruise ships to arrive in Fremantle are Le Soleal and Silver Cloud in August.

Happy and safe cruising.

*Words and photographs by Jean Hudson. Jean is our Shipping and Sailing Correspondent and also a regular feature writer, reviewer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may also like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

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