Over 140 individuals on the Royal Caribbean ship Navigator of the Seas fell ill during a recent cruise, as reported by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program. The ship, which departed Los Angeles on July 4 and returned on July 11 after stops in Mexico, had 134 passengers and seven crew members reporting symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
In response to the outbreak, Royal Caribbean enhanced cleaning procedures, collected stool samples for testing, and isolated those affected. The CDC is investigating the cause, with norovirus often linked to similar incidents on cruise ships.
This outbreak follows several others in recent months, including illnesses on a Holland America Line ship and a Princess Cruises vessel, as well as a Cunard cruise that affected over 240 people. The frequency of these incidents highlights ongoing health concerns in the cruise industry.
