Celebrity Apex Embarkation Delayed in Southampton Amid Norovirus Outbreak

On May 25, 2025, Celebrity Cruises announced a delay in the embarkation of the Celebrity Apex in Southampton, England, due to an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness, specifically Norovirus, that was reported during the previous voyage.

Several passengers on the vessel’s 8-night roundtrip, which started on May 17, exhibited symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. In response to the situation, Celebrity Cruises established enhanced sanitization measures both at the terminal and aboard the ship. Consequently, the embarkation process was pushed back by two hours, with boarding beginning at 1:30 p.m. Passengers were required to be on board by 4:30 p.m., and check-in was finalized by 3:30 p.m. Travelers were advised to stick to their assigned boarding times to avoid congestion in the terminal.

Despite the delayed embarkation, the ensuing 11-night voyage was still able to proceed as planned, with scheduled stops at various ports including Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, and Visby. Celebrity Cruises reassured guests that their health and safety was of utmost importance and that they would continue to closely monitor the outbreak.

For more information on the Celebrity Apex, you can view the ship’s CruiseMinus page.

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