On a confined cruise ship where everyone is eating the same thing, a bout of food poisoning can often effect a large number of passengers. In June 2000 there was an outbreak on the Disney Magic that caused over 260 people to develop gastroenteritis. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the government agency responsible for investigating outbreaks of diarrhea on cruise ships. The CDC traced the illness to shrimp that was served on the embarkation lunch buffet. The CDC found "a variety of bacterial and parasitic pathogens" in stool samples of passengers who ate the shrimp. Outbreaks such as the one on Disney Magic are relatively rare, given the large numbers of people who are cruising. Many of us who travel extensively develop a fatalistic attitude about dining out in general, and feel that the pleasures of traveling far outweigh the risks of "catching something" or getting diarrhea. Fortunately for us, the CDC works with the cruise line industry to prevent gastrointestinal pathogenic outbreaks, and there are steps you can take to help prevent or lessen your chances of getting food poisoning. This book is a comprehensive, up-to-date textbook on the constantly changing and often complex world of this subject. CONTENTS: A Taste of Excellence-The Ship food; Cruise Ship; Dining on the Board; Best Cruise Ship Food; Entertainment on Board; Live Show and Theatres; Film and Theatre; Music and Dance.