Bed bugs: an overlooked cruise ship menace

Between March of 2005 and November of 2010, at least 50 persons were bitten by bed bugs during 25 separate voyages on cruise ships worldwide.

On Nov. 6, 2010, aboard the Carnival Inspiration, passenger Tom Whalley reported numerous bite sores on his back to guest services. He said Carnival Corporation did not care about his complaint, would not disinfect his belongings before disembarking the vessel, forcing him to pay out of pocket for an exterminator.

In a Sept. 2009 cruise aboard the Princess Cruises’ Star Princess, Roberta Rosenthal, 59, discovered she was covered with bed bug bites while in the shower.

On April 15, 2006 aboard the Carnival Imagination, an anonymous woman reported that she, two foster children and her three-year-old granddaughter were bitten on the cruise. She said the company told her it could only document her case, nothing more.

In a Mar. 2006 cruise aboard the Princes Cruises’ Grand Princess, Beverly Wilke said she and her family became a ‘bed bug buffet” with bite scars lasting up to one month.

Source: Cruise Bruise.com