Norovirus Outbreak on Royal Caribbean Cruise Sickens Over 70 Passengers

A 13-day Royal Caribbean International cruise has been struck by a norovirus outbreak, leaving more than 70 passengers and crew sickened just days before the ship is scheduled to dock in Miami.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak occurred aboard the Serenade of the Seas, which departed San Diego on September 19. The vessel is set to arrive in Miami on Thursday.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program confirmed that at least 71 out of 1,874 passengers and 1 out of 883 crew members reported gastrointestinal illness during the voyage. The predominant symptoms included diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach cramps—classic signs of norovirus infection.

In response, the ship’s crew reportedly ramped up cleaning and disinfection protocols, isolated ill passengers and crew, and collected stool samples for testing. Royal Caribbean stated:

“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.”

Norovirus is an extremely contagious gastrointestinal virus that can spread rapidly in closed, crowded environments like cruise ships. It typically causes:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Fever and body aches in some cases

Symptoms usually develop 12–48 hours after exposure and can last up to three days. Norovirus can be transmitted through contaminated food, water, surfaces, or even by sharing utensils with an infected person.

The CDC has already recorded 19 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships in 2025, with 14 traced back to norovirus.

Passenger Rights and Potential Claims

Cruise ship passengers have a right to a reasonably safe and sanitary travel experience. While not every outbreak is grounds for legal action, certain circumstances may give rise to a potential claim:

• Failure to Sanitize Properly: If a cruise line neglects to follow CDC sanitation standards or fails to isolate infected passengers in a timely manner.
• Food Safety Violations: If contaminated food or water served onboard is linked to the outbreak.
• Delayed Medical Response: If passengers did not receive appropriate medical attention, leading to worsening illness.
• Failure to Warn: If the cruise line was aware of prior gastrointestinal outbreaks but did not inform passengers.

A successful claim could seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages (if the illness lingered after the cruise), and pain and suffering.

Passengers considering legal action must also be mindful of short deadlines. Cruise ticket contracts often require claims to be filed within one year of the incident and may designate a specific court for lawsuits—often in Miami for Royal Caribbean.

Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships remain a persistent concern despite strict sanitation protocols. The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program exists precisely to monitor and minimize these risks, but outbreaks highlight the challenges of controlling contagious illnesses in enclosed environments.

For affected passengers, the most important steps include seeking medical treatment, documenting symptoms, and reporting illnesses to both onboard medical staff and the CDC.

If you or a loved one contracted norovirus on a cruise, you may want to consult with a maritime injury attorney to determine whether the cruise line failed in its duty of care and whether a claim can be pursued.