Nearly 100 people aboard Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas contracted norovirus during a two-week voyage from San Diego to Miami, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The highly contagious gastrointestinal illness affected 94 of the 1,874 passengers, with four crew members also reporting symptoms. The ship docked at PortMiami early Thursday.
Norovirus is the most common cause of diarrhea and vomiting, and foodborne illness in the United States, leading to sudden vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. The CDC recommends regular hand washing with soap and water for prevention, rather than relying solely on hand sanitizer.
The outbreak started shortly after the ship’s stop in Mexico. Passenger Joshua Pettit and his father, Bob, were among those who fell ill. In an interview with CBS News, Joshua described the sudden and violent nature of the illness and its impact on his father.
Bob Pettit received medication and was isolated in his stateroom as part of the standard protocol to prevent further spread of the virus.
The crew of the ship escalated safety measures by serving passengers at the buffet instead of letting them serve themselves, according to Joshua Pettit.
In addition to the dining hall, cleaning efforts were intensified across the vessel, with crew members meticulously disinfecting all surfaces that passengers might touch.
Dr. Aileen Marty, an infectious disease professor at Florida International University, emphasized the risk of rapid fluid loss associated with norovirus, particularly for individuals with compromised immune systems.
Royal Caribbean promptly reported the outbreak to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) and implemented their outbreak response plan, including isolating the sick, thorough disinfection, and sample collection for testing.
The CDC is closely monitoring the situation and reviewing the ship’s procedures remotely. This incident marks the second norovirus outbreak of the year for Royal Caribbean.
More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides additional information on norovirus prevention and symptoms.
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Citation: Nearly 100 sickened aboard Royal Caribbean ship with norovirus (2025, October 3) retrieved 4 October 2025 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-sickened-aboard-royal-caribbean-ship.html
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