Over 130 passengers and a handful of crew were stricken with a gastrointestinal illness during a 7‑night voyage aboard Navigator of the Seas, which departed Los Angeles CA on July 4 and returned on the 11th.
According to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, 134 of the 3,914 guests (about 3.4%) and 7 crew members (0.6%) reported symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.
The cause has not yet been confirmed. Stool samples taken onboard are under analysis, though norovirus is a common culprit in similar outbreaks.
This incident marks the 18th gastrointestinal outbreak reported by the CDC for 2025, already matching the total from 2024.
In response, RCI-Royal Caribbean intensified sanitation protocols, isolated affected individuals, and coordinated with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.
The cruise line emphasized that its cleaning procedures surpass public health guidelines.
Health experts note that such illnesses, primarily norovirus, typically resolve within one to three days and stress the importance of rigorous hand washing—especially since alcohol-based sanitizers do not fully eliminate the virus.
Even with thorough hygiene standards and regular inspections, the risk of gastrointestinal outbreaks remains a noted concern on cruise ships, though they account for just a fraction of broader community cases.
Passengers returning from the voyage were urged to monitor any lingering symptoms and maintain heightened personal hygiene to prevent further spread.
For more Navigator of the Seas incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.