Norovirus Outbreak Affects 115 on Caribbean Princess Cruise

A norovirus outbreak has affected 115 people, including 102 passengers and 13 crew members, aboard the Caribbean Princess during a 13-night Southern Caribbean cruise, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed. The ship, which departed Fort Lauderdale on April 28 with 3,116 passengers and 1,131 crew, reported the outbreak to the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program on May 7 after illness rates surpassed the 3% threshold requiring public notification. Symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea, consistent with norovirus infection.

The cruise included stops at Princess Cays, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, St. Maarten, San Juan, Amber Cove, and Nassau. Princess Cruises stated the illnesses were mild and occurred throughout the voyage, not in a single cluster. The company said it implemented enhanced disinfection protocols across the vessel and will conduct a comprehensive cleaning at Port Canaveral upon arrival at 5:15 a.m. on May 11 before the ship's next departure.

The CDC noted that not all 115 individuals were ill simultaneously, and many have already recovered. This marks the second significant gastrointestinal outbreak on the Caribbean Princess in six years, following a 2020 incident that sickened over 300 passengers and led to an early termination of a voyage. Norovirus spreads rapidly in confined environments through contaminated surfaces, food, water, or person-to-person contact.

Passenger Jan van Milligen said the cruise atmosphere remained normal, with entertainment and meals continuing as scheduled. He credited the crew with timely communication and professional handling of the situation. Princess Cruises emphasized that extra sanitizing measures were deployed and passengers were informed promptly.

The Caribbean Princess is scheduled to dock at Port Canaveral on May 11, where it will undergo full decontamination before resuming service.