A Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the Serenade of the Seas, returned to PortMiami on Thursday morning after a 13-night journey that was marred by a norovirus outbreak affecting dozens of passengers. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 94 passengers and four crew members reported illness during the voyage.
The ship embarked from San Diego on September 19 and visited several locations in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia before reaching Miami. Passengers shared their alarming experiences on platforms like TikTok, describing sudden and severe illness that struck shortly after dining.
Concerns over sanitation were evident as crew members took extra precautions upon noticing the outbreak. “Today we noticed they removed the salt and pepper shakers, things like that. Last night, they were sanitizing in the casino,” said Joshua Pettit, a passenger on the cruise. He noted that passengers were required to sanitize their hands before entering the theater—a move indicating the cruise line’s efforts to control the situation.
Infectious disease expert Dr. Aileen Marty explained that norovirus is notorious for its rapid spread in confined settings such as cruise ships. She highlighted that outbreaks must be reported when more than 2% of passengers present with symptoms. “Anytime you have crowds and lots of eating environments…you can easily contaminate surfaces that others will touch,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of proper hygiene practices.
Royal Caribbean responded to the incident by reaffirming their commitment to passenger safety. The company stated, “The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority. To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.”
Experts advise continuous cleaning of surfaces and thorough handwashing for at least 60 seconds as effective measures to combat the spread of norovirus. Dr. Marty further advised, “Make sure your hands are clean, so what you put into your mouth is safe.”
Health officials are actively monitoring the outbreak and will engage with passengers as they disembark to gather insights into their experiences on board, underlining the ongoing dedication to improving health standards at sea.