Honestly, this is really gross!
A medical professional has given people a pretty solid reason to pause before booking their next cruise trip, and it’s seriously unsettling.
This particular warning comes from a paediatrician who regularly shares helpful medical insights on TikTok. But this time, his message wasn’t about vaccines or kids’ health—it was about why you won’t catch him anywhere near a cruise ship. And it has nothing to do with rough seas or the idea of being stuck at sea with pirates.
Dr. Rubin has a much more alarming reason behind his stance, and now he's encouraging others to think twice before planning their next cruise after learning about this troubling issue.
"Here's why you're not gonna see me on a cruise ship anytime soon, and I encourage people to consider this before they book a cruise," he began in a TikTok video that quickly went viral and sparked a lot of conversation.
"So you know how there's been all these cuts at federal public health agencies lately? Well one of them is the CDC's vessel sanitation program which conducts health inspections on cruise ships at least twice a year."
To back up his claims, he even shared a screenshot from a CBA news article, which pointed out that cruise ship inspectors had recently been “laid off amid bad year for outbreaks.”
The doctor says a cruise may not be all it cracks up to be Getty Images
Explaining why this should raise a big red flag for cruise-goers, he said: "They trace outbreaks to help reduce the chances of more people getting sick."
And if that wasn’t concerning enough, he pointed out that ever since those staffing cuts, there’s been a noticeable increase in outbreak cases on cruise ships.
"We've already had 12 Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships this year compared to eight last year," he added, highlighting just how fast things have spiraled.
He said it comes down to a sanitation issue Getty Images
Norovirus, which is often called the “winter vomiting bug,” comes with a pretty nasty list of symptoms, according to the NHS. These include vomiting, diarrhoea, painful body aches, a fever, and often a pounding headache.
The virus is extremely contagious and can spread very quickly, especially in tight spaces like those you’d find on a cruise ship packed with people.
And let’s be honest, nobody wants to be dealing with that while trying to enjoy a vacation at sea.
This warning comes right after reports surfaced about a serious Norovirus outbreak onboard the Coral Princess. According to VT, it affected 69 passengers and 13 crew members while on a three-week cruise traveling from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale.
Those who got sick had to isolate, and the ship’s public spaces were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to prevent further spread.
Worryingly, this wasn't even the first time the Coral Princess faced such an issue. The CDC had previously reported that the ship also experienced a Norovirus outbreak back in January.
Dozens are saying they wouldn't consider a cruise anymore Getty Images
Dr. Rubin didn’t hold back his thoughts on the situation. He called out the decision to cut health inspection programs, emphasizing that the funding doesn’t come from taxpayer dollars anyway.
"The cruise ships pay for these health inspections, so it's not like we're actually saving any money from the taxpayers perspective. This makes absolutely no sense," he said in frustration.
His comment section quickly filled with people who absolutely agreed. Many said they’re now seriously rethinking their cruise vacation plans thanks to the threat of catching Norovirus while stuck on a ship.
"Cruises are giant floating petri dishes. Ain't worth it," said one user bluntly.
Another added: "Norovirus on LAND is horrendous. In a tiny cabin, on a ship, with other passengers. Ugh!"
And a third chimed in with: "You could not PAY ME to go on a cruise."
