Crew members aboard the luxury cruise ship Azamara Onward are undergoing a makeshift quarantine due to a gastrointestinal illness outbreak during their current voyage. As a result, they will not be allowed to disembark when the ship visits Saint Tropez on July 5, 2025. The port requires tenders to transport guests and crew to shore, but crew members will not be permitted on these tenders alongside guests.
In an email from the cruise line’s HR department, it was confirmed that crew members are restricted from riding tenders with guests due to the ship’s operational prerequisite program (OPRP), which emphasizes food safety and aims to prevent cross-contamination. While fewer than 10 guests have reported symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea, there is no confirmation of any crew members being ill.
The cruise line prioritizes health and safety, but the complete ban on crew members going ashore may seem excessive. Alternative measures, such as using separate tenders for crew, sanitizing between trips, or implementing stricter protocols for symptomatic crew, could have been considered to maintain morale while minimizing contagion risk. Azamara Onward is currently on a 10-night sailing from Barcelona to Nice, with its next itinerary scheduled for the Mediterranean.
