The high seas are in high distress with stomach bugs going viral. A recent outbreak of norovirus aboard Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas has left 71 passengers and one crew member running for the rails, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With symptoms including the less-than-desirable duo of vomiting and diarrhea, the ill-fated adventure began September 19 in San Diego and is set to dock in Miami this Thursday, as reported by WSVN.
Serenade of the Seas, boasting over 1,800 passengers, has been plying the ocean waves since 2003, but this time it's navigating through troubled waters of the gastrointestinal variety. Florida International University Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Aileen Marty underscored the commonality of this pesky virus, telling WSVN, "It’s going to make you nauseous, it’s going to give you vomiting, give you diarrhea for a few days and in it of itself, is not that bad, but if you get dehydrated from losing all those fluids, it can very serious." The Royal Caribbean has ramped up sanitation efforts on board, like isolating those afflicted and cleaning with a fury, to mitigate the outbreak.
To Miami's dismay, this case marks the 19th outbreak that's met the CDC's criteria for public reporting on cruises in 2025 alone, surpassing 2024's count. As reported by USA TODAY, out of this year's gastrointestinal troubled sailings, norovirus headlines the cause in 14 instances. To put this wave of outbreaks into perspective, during the same period the year before, the illness starred in fewer events.
More concerning is a footnoted detail: the CDC cautions that relying too heavily on hand sanitizer may be ineffective against norovirus, making traditional soap and water the safer option. Additionally, Sarah R. Michaels from Tulane University explained to USA TODAY that outbreaks might seem more common on cruises just because they are easier to identify and bring to public awareness there, as communities often miss out on reporting the same issues on land. She also advised travelers to practice strict hand hygiene and to self-isolate if symptoms appear, noting that these precautions are the minimum necessary in the confined setting of a cruise ship where viruses spread easily.
Whether traveling by cruise or staying on land, the key message remains the same: practice thorough handwashing to help prevent illness. In response to recent outbreaks, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to passenger and crew safety: "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," as noted by USA TODAY.
