Cruise ships are like floating cities, with thousands of passengers and crew coexisting in close quarters. While travelers spend their days moving between restaurants, pools, and entertainment venues, much of what happens behind the scenes remains outside their view.
Although dangerous onboard incidents aren’t the norm, a serious incident involving two employees recently brought Spanish authorities aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship that also made headlines last year after a father rescued his daughter when she fell overboard.
The Disney Dream was completing a seven-night European voyage when a crew member fell ill and required treatment at a local hospital in Vigo, Spain. But what initially seemed like a simple medical issue turned into an investigation after she claimed another employee had placed an unknown substance in her water bottle.
Authorities are now trying to figure out what the employee consumed and whether it was deliberately added.
Disney Dream Crew Member Accuses Colleague Of Poisoning Her
The incident occurred during a recent sailing from Barcelona, Spain to Southampton, England, aboard Disney Dream. The July 20 sailing included stops in Cartagena, Málaga, Vigo, and A Coruña before concluding in Southampton on July 27.
According to local news outlet Faro De Vigo, an Argentinian crew member started feeling sick on Friday, July 24, and was taken to the hospital while the ship was docked in Vigo. After leaving the hospital, the employee filed a complaint with Spanish authorities and accused another employee of deliberately poisoning her. She believed an unknown substance had been placed in her water bottle.
Disney Dream Facts:
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Maiden Voyage: |
January 26, 2011 |
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Tonnage: |
130,000 GT |
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Capacity: |
4,000 |
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Crew: |
1,458 |
The accusation alone didn’t confirm that the crew member’s colleague was responsible for her sickness, but it was serious enough to prompt Spanish authorities to begin an on-board investigation.
Investigators Are Analyzing What The Crew Member Allegedly Consumed
After receiving the employee’s complaint, Spain’s Civil Guard officers boarded the Disney Dream to investigate. Authorities reportedly collected the water bottle that the crew member believed had been contaminated and sent its contents for analysis.
Chlorine is among the substances investigators are reportedly considering. However, official test results haven’t been released.
It is also unknown what may have led the employee to accuse her colleague.
The investigation didn’t appear to affect the Disney Dream’s itinerary, and the ship reached Southampton without any reported disruption to passengers. Additionally, no arrests or criminal charges have been announced.
Although the investigation concerns two crew members and didn’t affect guests, it has still sparked a broader discussion about safety at sea.
Cruisers commenting on a YouTube video by Doug Parker of Cruise News Today questioned whether cruising is becoming less safe overall. Several stated that the experience is gradually losing its appeal, while another commenter wrote that Disney Cruise Line, which markets itself as an option for multi-generational families, should not be associated with such violent incidents.
Reactions To The Alleged Disney Cruise Ship Poisoning:
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“Boy, you just never know what will happen on a cruise ship.” |
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“Seems cruising is losing its previous glamour and safety. Every day is something new.” |
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“The cruise life is getting as bad as some parts of ‘regular life’ on land. Gee, we get on cruises to escape all of the bad stuff.” |
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“Disney should be the happiest place on earth, not a backdrop for attempted murder.” |
While commenters debated the safety of cruising more broadly, the mention of chlorine raises another question: How dangerous is drinking water with chlorine in it, and should travelers be concerned about this on cruise ships?
What Travelers Should Know About Chlorine Exposure
Chlorine is a chemical element that is added to pools and drinking water to kill germs, but its presence alone doesn’t make water unsafe.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) drinking-water guidance, chlorine levels up to 4 parts per million (ppm) are considered safe in drinking water.
Additionally, pools generally contain between 1 and 4 ppm of chlorine — although pool water should never be swallowed because it can contain germs and other contaminants.
“Chlorine, the chemical in pool water, can make you sick if you swallow enough of it. And if you swallow the water, or it goes up your nose, it could expose you to E. coli, norovirus, and parasites,” said Lia Crispell, a certified nurse practitioner with Geisinger Health.
However, the risks increase when someone swallows a more concentrated chlorine-containing product.
The CDC explains that solutions with higher concentrations of chlorine can cause severe injuries affecting the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach, including:
- Burns
- Bleeding
- Perforation
- Scarring
Additionally, according to MedicinePlus, individuals with chlorine poisoning may experience symptoms like vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and blood in the stool.
In the Disney Dream case, authorities haven’t confirmed the substance, its concentration, or how much the employee may have consumed. Those details will determine whether it could have caused her illness and how its risks compare with the low chlorine levels cruise ship travelers encounter in pools and treated drinking water.
TheTravel contacted Disney Cruise Line for comment but didn’t receive a response before publication.
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