WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsRepeated virus outbreaks not affecting interest in cruise ships
Member Center:
By Hatzel Vela bio | email | Twitter
Charleston, SC (WCSC) - For the third time in a row, the Celebrity Mercury cruise ship pulled up to the Port of Charleston with sick passengers.
More than 360 passengers were reportedly sick with the Noro virus. "I'm really, really sad it happened because we've all been looking forward to these cruises out of Charleston," said Gerlind Sievert, a cruise consultant.
But despite the repeated incidents with the virus Sievert said, "quite frankly, I still book cruises."
Sievert has planning cruises for people for two and a half years. Customers tell her they are concerned but they know it's not the cruise line's fault. "People do not really connect the Noro virus outbreak with the cruise line and a particular ship," Sievert said.
Sievert runs her business out of her home. She chose to focus on cruise ships because of their reliability, she said. They're different from other vacation options like resorts, according to Sievert. "They literally bend over backwards to make it a wonderful experience for the passengers," she added.
And that's good for her business. She doesn't think the three outbreaks will impact the cruises leaving Charleston. Agents from Abbott and Hill Travel Agency in West Ashley also said they haven't seen a drop in interest. People continue to book cruises, not only on Celebrity Mercury, but others as well, said Donna Hill, owner of the agency.
©2010 WCSC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
