Enhanced Sanitation Measures Implemented on Princess Cruises Ship Following Unreported Outbreak

A recent outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness on the Sky Princess has led to heightened cleaning measures and cautious protocols to ensure the health and safety of passengers. This issue began during the ship’s January 26, 2025, sailing from Fort Lauderdale, which includes a visit to popular Caribbean destinations.

Passengers were notified of the outbreak shortly after departure, as officials urged everyone to practice good hygiene, including handwashing and reporting symptoms. As a precaution, a comprehensive cleaning operation was initiated while docked in Ocho Rios, Jamaica on January 29. Passengers were requested to disembark to facilitate these cleaning efforts.

On February 2, the Sky Princess returned to Fort Lauderdale for further disinfection, coinciding with a turnover period for new guests embarking on a subsequent cruise. A letter addressed to back-to-back passengers acknowledged the small number of illness cases reported and detailed the ship’s intensive cleaning processes designed in coordination with health agencies.

During the cleaning, guests without immediate plans were encouraged to vacate the ship from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Options included a complimentary shuttle to a nearby beach or waiting in the cruise terminal. As a gesture of goodwill, Princess Cruises offered each guest a $30 onboard credit to cover meals during the disembarkation period.

Interestingly, there has yet to be a report to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding this outbreak, likely because the number of reported cases falls below the threshold for mandatory reporting, which requires at least 3% illness rates among guests or crew.

January 2025 has seen a concerning trend of gastrointestinal outbreaks across cruise lines, including incidents on the Coral Princess and Volendam. These situations highlight the ongoing challenges that cruise lines face in maintaining health and safety standards.

The upcoming sailing for Sky Princess is set for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, featuring stops at Princess Cays, San Juan, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk, as the cruise line continues to navigate through health measures and guest safety protocols.


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