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Ryndam, twice hit by illness, sails again
650 cleaners spent week on ship before 1,300 passengers boarded.
(Anchorage Daily News, August 10, 2002
Vancouver, British Columbia -- After two consecutive sailings hit by contagious illness, and a week of intensive sanitation by 650 cleaners, Holland America's Ryndam cruise ship left Thursday afternoon for Alaska with a full passenger load of 1,300 people.
In late July, the Ryndam experienced an outbreak of a flu-like illness, and 163 passengers and seven crew members became ill with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
Less than a week later, the same ship, loaded with a new group of passengers, had another outbreak of the same Norwalk-like virus.
When it arrived in Vancouver last week, 200 passengers and 31 crew members were sick.
Earlier this week, two passengers launched a class-action lawsuit against Seattle-based Holland America. Beverly and Larry Jones of Duncan, British Columbia, are suing on behalf of passengers who contracted the virus.
The writ filed in British Columbia Supreme Court claims the cruise line showed "a callous disregard" for passengers who became ill. It also claims Holland America failed to warn passengers about the first outbreak of the virus aboard the ship, preventing them from canceling their cruises and avoiding the illness.
The Ryndam was docked for the week while crews thoroughly cleaned the ship with chlorine and hydrogen peroxide solutions, paying particular attention to areas where the virus may have been prominent.
Health Canada officials said Wednesday they were satisfied the ship had been properly disinfected and was ready to sail with a new group of passengers.
Among those boarding the freshly sanitized Ryndam, Catherine Nicol, with her husband and daughter, said she knew of the two viral attacks aboard the ship before she left her Edmonton home, but said she wasn't concerned about a third wave of illness sweeping over the ship.
"We'll probably have the cleanest cruise of the year," said Nicol, who didn't bother taking out cancellation insurance in case of illness.
Craig Brandt was another passenger who wasn't about to let the two virus attacks ruin his holiday plans.
"They tell me they've washed the ship down in bleach," said Brandt, a health-care professional from Colorado.
But Cathy McLarean, who traveled to Vancouver from England for the cruise, said she was slightly alarmed when she heard about last week's virus.
"But I think they've done as much as they can, so hopefully all will be fine," she said.
650 cleaners spent week on ship before 1,300 passengers boarded.
(Anchorage Daily News, August 10, 2002
Vancouver, British Columbia -- After two consecutive sailings hit by contagious illness, and a week of intensive sanitation by 650 cleaners, Holland America's Ryndam cruise ship left Thursday afternoon for Alaska with a full passenger load of 1,300 people.
In late July, the Ryndam experienced an outbreak of a flu-like illness, and 163 passengers and seven crew members became ill with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
Less than a week later, the same ship, loaded with a new group of passengers, had another outbreak of the same Norwalk-like virus.
When it arrived in Vancouver last week, 200 passengers and 31 crew members were sick.
Earlier this week, two passengers launched a class-action lawsuit against Seattle-based Holland America. Beverly and Larry Jones of Duncan, British Columbia, are suing on behalf of passengers who contracted the virus.
The writ filed in British Columbia Supreme Court claims the cruise line showed "a callous disregard" for passengers who became ill. It also claims Holland America failed to warn passengers about the first outbreak of the virus aboard the ship, preventing them from canceling their cruises and avoiding the illness.
The Ryndam was docked for the week while crews thoroughly cleaned the ship with chlorine and hydrogen peroxide solutions, paying particular attention to areas where the virus may have been prominent.
Health Canada officials said Wednesday they were satisfied the ship had been properly disinfected and was ready to sail with a new group of passengers.
Among those boarding the freshly sanitized Ryndam, Catherine Nicol, with her husband and daughter, said she knew of the two viral attacks aboard the ship before she left her Edmonton home, but said she wasn't concerned about a third wave of illness sweeping over the ship.
"We'll probably have the cleanest cruise of the year," said Nicol, who didn't bother taking out cancellation insurance in case of illness.
Craig Brandt was another passenger who wasn't about to let the two virus attacks ruin his holiday plans.
"They tell me they've washed the ship down in bleach," said Brandt, a health-care professional from Colorado.
But Cathy McLarean, who traveled to Vancouver from England for the cruise, said she was slightly alarmed when she heard about last week's virus.
"But I think they've done as much as they can, so hopefully all will be fine," she said.