240 people get sick on luxury cruise ship
Listen to the story (New Zealand accent)
More than 240 people on the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship have become sick with norovirus, a stomach bug.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the outbreak. The ship was finishing a four-week trip from the United Kingdom to the Caribbean.
The Queen Mary 2 left England on March 8 and will return on April 6. 224 of the 2,538 passengers got sick. Also, 17 of the 1,232 crew members became ill.
Norovirus spreads easily. It is common in places where people are close together, like cruise ships and hotels. Dr. William Schaffner, a doctor who studies diseases, said that norovirus is "known obviously as the cruise ship virus."
The virus can spread with very few tiny pieces of the virus. It can stay on surfaces for days. If someone touches a dirty surface and then their mouth, they can easily get sick.
People on the Queen Mary 2 have diarrhea and vomiting. The ship’s company, Cunard Line, has increased cleaning. They have also quarantined sick passengers.
The CDC is watching the situation. They are checking the ship's plans to stop the spread of the virus. Cunard says they are also watching the passengers who are sick.
In 2024, there were 16 stomach bug outbreaks on cruise ships, the most in over ten years. In 2023, there were 14 outbreaks.
So far in 2025, there have been 11 outbreaks on cruise ships. Nine of these were norovirus.
The CDC says that people on cruises should wash their hands often, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. If they feel sick, they should tell the ship's crew right away.
Vocabulary25 words
- Cruise ship
- a large boat that takes people on trips for fun; ?
- Sick
- ill; not feeling well;
- Stomach bug
- a sickness that makes your stomach hurt; people call viruses and bacteria “bugs”
- Report
- to tell other people about something; to share information; announce; explain
- Outbreak
- when many people get sick at the same time
- The Caribbean
- a group of island countries near the US, Mexico and South America
- Leave
- to go away; to depart; to stop being part of something;
- Passenger
- a person who is traveling in a vehicle, or on a train or plane, but is not driving it or working on it
- Crew
- a group of people who work together; a group or team of people who work together on a vehicle like an airplane or a ship
- Crew member
- a person whose job is on an airplane or ship, for example, a pilot, flight attendant, cleaner, chef, etc.
- Ill
- sick; not well
- Spread
- When something moves from one place to other places; how a sickness/disease jumps from one person to another.
- Obviously
- Easy to see or understand
- Virus
- A tiny thing that can make people sick (COVID-19 is a virus)
- Piece
- A small part of something bigger
- Surface
- the top or outside layer of something; exterior; ground
- Touch
- to put your hand or finger on something
- Get sick
- To become ill; to not feel well
- Diarrhea
- when you have to go to the bathroom a lot with loose poop.
- Vomit
- To throw up; when food from your stomach comes out of your mouth; ?
- Quarantine
- to stay away from others for a period of time because you have a disease, or may have one, in order to prevent the spread of the disease
- Situation
- What is happening at a certain place/time; circumstance; state of affairs; the way it is; event; occurrence
- Plan
- A detailed idea or strategy to reach a goal; a method, idea or process to achieve a goal;
- So far
- until now; up to the present moment or time
- Especially
- to show that something is greater or more important than other things; particularly; notably; specifically; for the most part
Quiz
Answer key
1. The CDC 2. 11 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
More than _____ people on the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship have become sick with norovirus, a _____ bug.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control _____ Prevention (CDC) reported the outbreak. The ship was _____ a four-week trip from the United Kingdom _____ the Caribbean.
The Queen Mary 2 _____ England on March 8 and will return on April _____ . 224 of the 2,538 passengers got sick. Also, 17 of the _____ crew members became ill.
Norovirus spreads _____ . It is common in places where people are close _____ , like cruise ships and hotels. Dr. William Schaffner, a doctor who _____ diseases, said that norovirus is "known obviously as the _____ ship virus."
The virus can spread _____ very few tiny pieces of the virus. It can stay on surfaces for days. If _____ touches a dirty surface and then their mouth, they _____ easily get sick.
People on the Queen Mary 2 _____ diarrhea and vomiting. The ship’s company, Cunard Line, has _____ cleaning. They have also quarantined sick passengers.
_____ CDC is watching the situation. They are checking the ship's plans to _____ the spread of the virus. Cunard says they are also _____ the passengers who are sick.
In 2024, there were _____ stomach bug outbreaks on cruise ships, the most in over _____ years. In 2023, there were 14 outbreaks.
_____ far in 2025, there have been 11 outbreaks on cruise ships. _____ of these were norovirus.
The CDC says that people on _____ should wash their hands often, especially after using the _____ and before eating. If they feel sick, they should tell the ship's _____ right away.
Discussion questions
- What are some ways to prevent getting sick on a trip?
- Do you think cruise ships are safe places to travel? Why or why not?
- If you were on the Queen Mary 2, what would you do?
- What do you think is the best way for a ship to handle an outbreak?
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