Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Passengers on Florida Cruise

TAMPA, Fla. – Nearly 100 passengers and crew members fell ill with gastrointestinal symptoms aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Radiance of the Seas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This outbreak, affecting 89 of the 2,164 passengers and two of the 910 crew members, was reported on Feb. 1, just prior to the ship’s return to Tampa on Feb. 8 after a week-long journey.

The CDC indicated that affected individuals reported symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting. While the specific cause of the outbreak has not yet been confirmed, health officials have noted that norovirus is often implicated in similar situations aboard cruise ships.

The outbreak was communicated to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on Tuesday, February 6. In response, Royal Caribbean has implemented “enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures” and is collecting stool samples from sickened passengers for testing. “In an abundance of caution, enhanced measures have been implemented onboard to protect the health and comfort of all our guests and crew,” a spokespeople for Royal Caribbean told CBS News on Friday.

Norovirus is known to be highly contagious and is a leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea outbreaks in the U.S., accounting for approximately 90% of all gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships. The CDC reported that, annually, there are about 2,500 norovirus outbreaks in the United States, relating to 19 to 21 million illnesses. The agency has noted that outbreaks on cruise ships typically only represent a small fraction of all reported cases.

According to the CDC, the radiance of the Seas is part of a larger trend; the agency has recorded six outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness aboard cruise ships in 2025 alone. Each outbreak is documented if at least 3% of passengers or crew members report gastrointestinal symptoms.

Dr. Edwin Michael, an epidemiologist, stated that the challenges of controlling norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships stem from close living quarters and shared dining areas. “Repeated outbreaks may also occur because the virus can persist on surfaces for days and is resistant to many common disinfectants,” he said.

The CDC’s monitoring of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships aims to quickly identify and manage outbreaks to limit their spread. Health protocols recommend that passengers wash their hands frequently, report any illness to ship medical staff promptly, and follow preventive measures to mitigate the risk of transmission.