Riviep-Opplcip

After the start of the latest cruise from Miami on Mar 20, 2015, a norovirus outbreak was reported onboard the "Riviera". 52 passengers were ill with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. Specimens have been collected, tested onboard and found to be positive for norovirus. The specimens were sent to CDC for additional testing. No crew have been affected to date. The voyage was slated to end on Apr 3. Norovirus outbreaks have already been reported and investigated on the "Riviera" in fall 2015, when 86 passengers and crew were sickened, and more recently, last month when 127 total people were stricken with the gastrointestinal virus. In response to the outbreak, Oceania Cruises and the crew aboard the ship reported the following actions: Increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan, collecting stool specimens from passenger and crew gastrointestinal illness cases for testing, and making multiple daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the VSP.

International Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. , a leading global cruise operator, on Nov. 20 announced it has completed its previously-announced acquisition of Prestige Cruises International, Inc., the market leader in the upscale cruise segment and parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, in cash and stock for a total transaction consideration of $3.025 billion, including the assumption of debt, the company said in its press release. With this acquisition, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. operates a portfolio of brands that span all market segments in the cruise industry, from contemporary to upper-premium to luxury. Each brand offers differentiated experiences in their respective segments.

Oceania Cruises — has cancelled calls in Israel due to ongoing violence. Oceania’s Riviera cancelled a call there on Sept. 8. The calls were replaced with visits to Mykonos, Greece, and Antalya and Alanya, Turkey.