An outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhea, has sickened more than 70 people aboard a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship.
At least 71 passengers and one crew member aboard the Serenade of the Seas have fallen ill with norovirus as of Sept. 28, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The predominant symptoms are diarrhea and vomiting, per the CDC — testing confirmed the cause was norovirus. This is the third outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on a Royal Caribbean ship this year.
Norovirus is a very common virus that spreads easily through contact with sick people or contaminated food and surfaces.
Serenade of the Seas Norovirus Outbreak 2025
A total of 1,874 passengers and 883 crew are still aboard the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas ship on a 13-night cruise, which ends later this week.
The cruise departed on Sept. 19 from San Diego, California, and makes stops in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia before returning to Miami on Oct. 2, according to CruiseMapper.
The current outbreak was reported on Sept. 28 to the CDC through its Vessel Sanitation Program, which monitors outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships arriving at U.S. ports.
So far, about 3.8% of passengers and 0.1% of crew have fallen ill with norovirus, per the CDC.
In response to the norovirus outbreak on the Serenade of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is isolating all sick passengers and crew, collecting stool samples for testing, and increasing disinfection procedures, the CDC said.
In a statement sent to TODAY.com, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said: “The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority. To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.”
Cruise Ship Norovirus Outbreaks on Rise
The norovirus outbreak on the Serenade of the Seas comes just two months after another bout of gastrointestinal illness struck a Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
In July, over 140 passengers and crew members aboard the Navigator of the Seas fell ill with diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps caused by norovirus, NBC News reported previously.
In February, a norovirus outbreak sickened over 160 people on the Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas, per the CDC. Several other major cruise lines have reported outbreaks this year.
So far in 2025, there have been 14 confirmed outbreaks of norovirus and 19 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction — which surpasses the total number of GI outbreaks on cruise ships in 2024, per the CDC.
Cruise ships are required to report gastrointestinal illness cases to the CDC, and the agency notifies the public about outbreaks if they meet certain criteria (such as the cruise has over 100 passengers and 3% or more are sick).
Outbreaks of the highly infectious stomach bug on cruise liners have surged in recent years. In 2023, norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships reached the highest number (13) seen in over 10 years, TODAY.com reported previously. In 2024, the number of norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships rose to 15.
“Traveling on cruise ships exposes people to new environments and high volumes of people, including other travelers. This exposure can create the risk for illness from contaminated food or water or, more commonly, through person-to-person contact,” the CDC said.
Norovirus Symptoms
Norovirus symptoms are usually sudden and intense, per the Cleveland Clinic. The most common signs of norovirus include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain or cramping
Less common symptoms include a headache, muscle aches or low fever.
Norovirus symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus, per the CDC, and typically last for about one to three days before resolving.
However, a person can still spread the virus after they recover from illness, and it only takes a small number of norovirus particles to make someone sick, TODAY.com previously reported.
How to Avoid Norovirus on Cruise Ships
Norovirus outbreaks can be fast-spreading and tough to control. When an outbreak on a cruise ship is reported to the CDC, the ships are required to take action to prevent further spread.
However, passengers can also take steps to stay healthy and prevent the spread of norovirus and other germs, per the CDC.
- Wash your hands often.
- Isolate if you’re sick.
- Notify cruise staff of gastrointestinal illness.
- Avoid sick passengers.
- Follow ship’s recommendations during an outbreak.
When it comes to hand hygiene and norovirus, it’s crucial to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against norovirus, TODAY.com reported previously.
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