July 18th 2025.
The Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas cruise ship has recently faced a concerning situation. A mysterious illness spread amongst its passengers and crew, causing 134 people and 11 staff members to fall ill. The outbreak occurred during a round-trip from the US to Mexico, with the ship departing from Los Angeles on July 4 and making a stop at Puerto Vallarta on July 8 before returning to LA three days later, according to its Cruise Mapper itinerary.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the outbreak, but the cause of the illness remains unknown. However, the symptoms reported by those affected, such as vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea, suggest that it could be norovirus. This highly contagious virus can show symptoms within 12 to 28 hours after being contracted and usually resolves within one to three days. However, it can still be spread up to 48 hours after symptoms have ended.
The health and safety of passengers and crew members are a top priority for Royal Caribbean, as stated by a company spokesperson in an interview with USA Today. Those who reported symptoms were immediately isolated, and the entire ship, which had a total of 5,180 people onboard, was thoroughly cleaned. This swift action was taken to prevent the illness from spreading any further.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that a cruise ship has faced an outbreak of this nature. Last October, a 77-year-old British man, Alan Forster, passed away after catching norovirus on P&O's Arcadia cruise ship. He was one of almost 100 people who fell ill during the month-long trip across the Atlantic Ocean to the US and Canada. Despite being confined to his cabin with symptoms of diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting, his condition worsened, and he was hospitalized when the ship reached St John's, in Newfoundland, Canada. Sadly, he did not recover.
According to the CDC, there have been 18 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruises in 2025 that met their threshold for public notification, with most cases being caused by norovirus. We reached out to Royal Caribbean for their statement on the recent outbreak on their Navigator of the Seas ship, which has a capacity of 3,300 and boasts impressive facilities such as 17 bars, 12 dining options, a rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, three pools, a surf simulator, six whirlpools, and a riptide waterslide. We are yet to receive a response.
In light of this concerning situation, it is crucial for cruise lines to prioritize the health and safety of their passengers and crew. Swift and effective measures must be taken to contain any outbreaks and prevent them from happening in the future.
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