Reasons why you should avoid hot tubs on cruise ships: You shouldn’t even go near them

Simple fact travel on a cruise This is already a luxury, but there are those who want to get additional experiences by paying for cabin with jacuzzi. Most ships of this type have public hot tubs, but it will always be much more intimate to use a private one in a guest’s own room. This all sounds very good, and in principle it is. The problem is that, according to a recent report US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of these Jacuzzis is the reason two legionella outbreaks found on cruise ships in 2022 and 2024.

In total they got sick 12 peopleof which 10 had to be hospitalized. Legionnaires’ disease, caused by bacteria of the genus Legionellaknown colloquially as Legionella, is respiratory disease which can be very serious. These bacteria are often found in fountain water or ventilation systems. You can eliminate them with heat, but the water in the jacuzzi is not hot enough, as it can withstand temperatures up to 50°C. Thus, it is also a good source for bacterial growth. This has led CDC experts to consider hot tubs as the first possible source of contamination from these boats. But there was something that confused them.

No traces of bacteria were found in public Jacuzzi pools on cruise ships. Having rejected this option, they thought about also investigating private baths and imagine his surprise when he discovered that these were indeed the culprits.

Why is a private hot tub more dangerous?

It is well known that Legionella can grow in hot tubs. Therefore you They are usually dried and chlorinated very often.. Many people bathe in them daily, so disinfection is necessary.

On the other hand, a private hot tub is only disinfected when it is passed from one guest to another. At best, it is cleaned at the same time as the room, but not so thoroughly. Therefore, since it is not as controlled, it is easier for bacteria to grow there.

Irrigation also for neighbors

At first, researchers were a little confused because some people who contracted Legionnaires’ disease on cruise ships Their room did not have a jacuzzi.. However, it turns out that there are cabins nearby that offer this luxury.

Additionally, the two affected cruise ships had a very important common factor: the private Jacuzzi is located on the balcony. This means that bacteria may be present in steam coming from the jacuzzi and that other passengers could breathe them from nearby balconies.

After confirming that there were no traces of Legionella in public Jacuzzis on ships, private Jacuzzis in rooms with balconies were analyzed. Thus, it was noticed that on one of the ships there were bacteria of this genus in 6 out of 10 bathswith a high concentration in 4 of them, and in the other boat there were bacteria of the genus Legionella in 8 hydromassage baths.

They were all drained and disinfected, and thus the Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks stopped. So if you’re going on a cruise, paying extra for a room with a jacuzzi might not be such a good idea. If yes, then find out about them first. disinfection methods. Sometimes luxury turns out to be more expensive than expected.