Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreak: 180+ Passengers Affected on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

Over 180 individuals fell ill during a gastrointestinal outbreak on a Royal Caribbean International cruise that concluded on Friday.

Out of the 2,172 passengers aboard the Radiance of the Seas, 180 reported feeling unwell, along with three crew members, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The primary symptoms experienced included abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headaches, and muscle aches.

The health organization noted that the exact cause of the outbreak remains unidentified.

At the time of the incident, the ship was on an Alaska cruise, having departed from Vancouver, Canada, on September 20, according to CruiseMapper.

“The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority,” a representative from Royal Caribbean stated in an email to USA TODAY. “To ensure an environment that promotes the highest standards of health and safety aboard our ships, we employ strict cleaning protocols, many of which surpass public health regulations.”

The ship also communicated updates regarding the outbreak and promoted “good hand hygiene” along with the reporting of cases, as noted by the CDC. This report marks the second outbreak aboard the Radiance of the Seas this year, following an incident in April where nearly 70 individuals experienced norovirus symptoms.

The CDC has recorded 10 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruises that necessitated public notification in 2024. Norovirus was identified as the cause in all but three of these occurrences.

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

While often linked with cruise ships, such incidents make up only 1% of all reported outbreaks.

“There’s nothing particularly unique about cruise ships,” Dr. Sarah E. Hochman, a hospital epidemiologist and infectious diseases section chief at NYU Langone Health’s Tisch Hospital, remarked to USA TODAY in April. “It’s really any type of congregate setting, but we also see it occur within communities on a much smaller scale among households and their contacts. These smaller cases don’t capture public health attention as readily as those in larger settings do.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 180+ Royal Caribbean guests, crew sick in gastrointestinal outbreak

---

Set sail on a voyage of discovery with CruiseShip.net – your ultimate destination for all things cruising! Explore the latest news, insightful reviews, and thrilling cruising adventures from around the globe. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or a first-time traveler, CruiseShip.net is your go-to source for expert advice, insider tips, and inspiring stories to fuel your wanderlust. Embark on a journey like no other with CruiseShip.net – where every wave brings new excitement and endless possibilities on the high seas.