The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last week that a gastrointestinal illness outbreak has struck the Royal Caribbean International cruise ship Radiance of the Seas, affecting 89 passengers and two crew members. The outbreak was identified on February 4, midway through the vessel’s 8-day Caribbean voyage that departed from Tampa, Florida.
The ship, carrying 2,164 passengers and 910 crew members, has implemented emergency protocols in response to the outbreak. Royal Caribbean staff have collected stool samples from those affected for laboratory testing to identify the specific cause of the illness. The cruise line has also isolated sick passengers and crew members to prevent further spread of the infection.
In accordance with outbreak prevention procedures, the ship’s crew has intensified cleaning and disinfection measures throughout the vessel. The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) is remotely monitoring the situation and reviewing the ship’s response protocols and sanitation procedures.
VSP maintains strict protocols for cruise ships to follow during such outbreaks, including increased cleaning procedures, isolation of affected individuals, and detailed reporting requirements. The program actively monitors all cruise ships that carry 13 or more passengers and have a foreign itinerary with U.S. ports.
The affected individuals are experiencing symptoms typical of gastroenteritis, including watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and in some cases, fever. The CDC noted that while norovirus is a common cause of cruise ship outbreaks, the specific pathogen responsible for this incident has not yet been identified. Laboratory testing of the collected samples is currently underway to determine the causative agent.
Gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection that can be contracted through various means, including contaminated food or water, as well as direct contact with infected individuals. The confined nature of cruise ships can create particular challenges for containing such outbreaks once they begin.
Royal Caribbean Group has stated that enhanced protective measures have been implemented to safeguard the health of all passengers and crew members. The cruise line is working closely with CDC officials to manage the outbreak and prevent additional cases.
This incident follows a similar outbreak on the same vessel in September 2024, when 167 people were sickened during a voyage from Vancouver to Alaska.
The CDC continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as laboratory results become available.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading norovirus lawyer said, “This outbreak is another example of the ongoing challenges that cruise ships face in preventing and containing infectious diseases in confined spaces with large numbers of passengers and crew members. However, any place where large groups of people gather are also potentially subject to similar outbreaks.”
