CDC Investigates Outbreak on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas

More than 90 passengers and crew members aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas reported cases of gastrointestinal illness during a weeklong cruise that departed from Tampa, Florida, on February 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The outbreak resulted in symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. The ship, which carried 2,164 passengers and 910 crew members, returned to port on Saturday after visiting Cozumel, Roatan Islands, Belize City, and Costa Maya, according to CruiseMapper. The CDC reported that 89 passengers and two crew members fell ill during the voyage.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program was notified of the outbreak on Tuesday, midway through the cruise. The cause of the illness has not been determined. Royal Caribbean has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident.

Affected individuals were instructed to isolate, and crew members collected stool samples for testing. In response to the outbreak, the ship’s crew increased cleaning and disinfection measures to prevent further spread of the illness.

Janet Kruse, a 57-year-old passenger from the Chicago area, traveled with a dance group called Dance with Janet. She stated that approximately 10% of her group of 120 people, aged 50 to 80, experienced symptoms. Kruse said that the first reported illness within her group occurred on Sunday, within 24 hours of boarding, followed by another case later that evening.

A shipwide announcement on Sunday afternoon indicated that an unusually high number of passengers had reported feeling unwell. As a result, the crew implemented additional sanitation measures to mitigate further spread.

The CDC continues to monitor the situation as samples are analyzed to determine the source of the outbreak.

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