RCI-Royal Caribbean International has issued a health advisory to guests scheduled to sail aboard the Symphony of the Seas on April 30, 2025, after being notified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that a guest from a previous voyage was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.
In a letter sent to passengers booked on the upcoming 9-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, the cruise line emphasized that the safety and health of passengers remain its highest priority. The advisory follows guidance from the CDC, which informed Royal Caribbean of the case.
The cruise line clarified that Legionnaires’ disease is not spread from person to person but is contracted by inhaling small water droplets containing Legionella bacteria. These bacteria are commonly found in both natural and man-made water sources, such as lakes, fountains, hot tubs, or municipal water systems. Royal Caribbean did not specify whether the bacteria may have been contracted onboard or at any of the ports visited during the previous sailing, noting that the source of exposure remains unknown.
As a precautionary measure, the company has reinforced its sanitation efforts aboard the Symphony of the Seas, implementing heightened cleaning and disinfection protocols in accordance with CDC guidance.
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia. Common symptoms include: persistent cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, headaches.
Royal Caribbean stated that most healthy individuals exposed to Legionella do not develop illness. Passengers experiencing these symptoms are advised to contact their medical provider.
This is not the first instance of such an advisory; in January 2025, Royal Caribbean sent similar notifications to passengers after two individuals who sailed on the Symphony of the Seas in late 2024 were later diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. In both cases, the cruise line emphasized that there was no evidence the infections originated on the ship.
For more Symphony OTS incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.