Outbreak on Carnival-Owned Ship Leads to Increased Sanitation Measures in Port

No cruise vacation is complete without the occasional concern over health, especially in the close quarters of a ship. Recently, the Queen Mary 2, operated by Cunard Line and owned by Carnival Corporation, has reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak among its passengers during a lengthy 29-night voyage through the Eastern Caribbean. The cruise, which began on March 8, 2025, from Southampton, UK, has already included stops at New York, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, and Grenada.

To address the outbreak, Cunard has scheduled a comprehensive deep cleaning of the ship while it docks in Barbados on March 22. Passengers received a notification about the situation and were informed that the cleaning process would span from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. During this time, guests are encouraged to disembark and enjoy time on land, particularly since many will likely partake in shore excursions. For those remaining on board, they are requested to leave their staterooms available for the cleaning crews.

The exact number of cases remains undisclosed, but Queen Mary 2 has the capacity to accommodate nearly 2,700 guests alongside a crew of 1,200. Passengers are being reminded to practice good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, especially since gastrointestinal illnesses often peak during this time of year.

This incident marks the third outbreak on Queen Mary 2 since mid-December, with previous outbreaks confirmed as norovirus. Notably, across cruise ships reporting to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a significant proportion of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks in 2025 have been attributed to this virus.

While the cruise line is diligently addressing the concerns aboard Queen Mary 2, it highlights an ongoing challenge within the industry, especially as other Carnival-affiliated ships, including those from Holland America Line and Princess Cruises, have also dealt with similar outbreaks recently.

For more details on related health measures and cruise safety protocols, visit the CDC’s cruise ship outbreak page.

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