Another Cruise Is Hit With an Uncomfortable Outbreak

A Royal Caribbean cruise turned into a rough ride for dozens of passengers this week, as a norovirus outbreak sickened 71 guests and a crew member aboard the Serenade of the Seas, according to the CDC. The ship left San Diego on Sept. 19 for a 13-night voyage and is expected to dock in Miami on Thursday, per People. With nearly 4% of those on board falling ill, the CDC says the main symptoms reported were vomiting and diarrhea. Those affected were isolated in an effort to contain the spread.

The CDC stressed the importance of reporting gastrointestinal symptoms early, noting that swift action can help limit outbreaks. Royal Caribbean said it ramped up its cleaning and disinfection protocols and collected stool samples for testing. The company described its health and safety measures as "rigorous," claiming many of its procedures go beyond what public health guidelines require. The cruise line also consulted with the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program, which is remotely monitoring how the ship is handling the outbreak.

The Tampa Bay Times notes it's not clear that the 70-plus illnesses struck all at once, as that number was reported over the duration of the entire cruise. This isn't an isolated incident: The CDC reports there have been 19 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships so far this year, with norovirus responsible for 14 of them.