Norovirus Outbreak Affects 91 Passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas

On February 4, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a gastrointestinal illness outbreak aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas. The ship departed from Tampa, Florida on February 1st for a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise. Out of 2,164 passengers, 89 reported symptoms, representing approximately 4.1% of those onboard, while 2 out of the 910 crew members (0.2%) were also affected. The specific cause of the illness has not yet been determined.

In response, Royal Caribbean implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfection measures as part of its outbreak prevention and response plan. Those showing symptoms were isolated, and stool samples were collected for testing to ascertain the source of the outbreak. The company is working with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program to ensure that all sanitation protocols are strictly followed.

This outbreak marks the sixth gastrointestinal illness incident on cruise ships that met the CDC’s public notification threshold of 3% in 2025, following 18 outbreaks in 2024, with many linked to Norovirus.

Despite these outbreaks, the CDC indicates that cruise ships represent only about 1% of all reported gastrointestinal illness cases. The agency stresses the importance of promptly reporting symptoms to onboard medical facilities, as early detection can help limit the spread of illness through isolation and enhanced sanitation measures.

While the investigation is ongoing, the cruise industry is taking necessary steps to uphold health standards to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew.

For more details on past incidents related to the Radiance of the Seas, visit its CruiseMinus page.

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