News item: 105 passengers and three crew members on Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas were treated for what was believed to be norovirus during an 11-night Caribbean cruise.
The story went on to report that affected passengers responded to over-the-counter medication and that the Vision of the Seas was cleaned extensively in Port Everglades, Florida, before departing on its next cruise the same day it arrived.
This is not exactly hot-off-the-press topic and probably wouldn't have even been here, until…
News item: CNN reports that in the wake of that story, Royal Caribbean shares sank nearly 3%, the latest black eye to hit the cruise industry.
So, let's get this straight. Because 108 people on a cruise ship get a stomach illness thought to be norovirus, shareholders run out and dump their stock.
Really?
Somehow, if we were Royal Caribbean shareholders, that would never have occurred to us.
At least half the passengers must have gotten better because guess what happened the next day?
The stock went up 1.5%.
Carnival Valor
7 nights
June 16, 2013
San Juan (return): St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Maarten
Inside: $579
Cost per day: $82
www.carnival.com