A luxury cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International ended in a nightmare after more than 140 passengers and crew members fell ill with a rare gastrointestinal illness during a voyage that departed from Los Angeles and made stops at ports in Mexico.
The outbreak was confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Ship Sanitation Program on Wednesday, July 17.
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The affected cruise ship, the Navigator of the Seas, sailed from the Port of Los Angeles on July 4 and made a seven-day voyage with stops at three Mexican tourist destinations, according to the specialized website CruiseMapper. The outbreak was reported on July 11, when the ship returned to California.
More than 140 sick: severe symptoms on board
Of the 3,914 passengers on board, at least 134 reported symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and severe abdominal cramps, according to the CDC. Additionally, seven crew members, out of a total of 1,266, were also affected by the illness.
Although the exact cause of the outbreak remains unconfirmed, health authorities suspect it could be a case of norovirus, one of the most common gastrointestinal viruses on cruise ships.
Royal Caribbean activates emergency protocol
In response to the outbreak, Royal Caribbean assured that immediate containment measures were implemented:
Intensified cleaning and disinfection protocols.
Isolation of affected individuals.
Collection of biological samples for analysis.
Constant coordination with the CDC.
The US health agency reported that it is monitoring the case remotely and will continue investigations to determine the origin of the illness.
Other recent outbreaks on luxury cruise ships
This incident follows a series of similar outbreaks on other cruise ships this year:
- In February, 80 passengers became ill on a Holland America Line ship.
- That same month, more than 80 passengers and crew members presented symptoms on a 16-night Princess Cruises cruise.
- In early 2025, more than 240 people became ill on an international cruise ship operated by Cunard Cruises.
Source: milenio
