More than 100 passengers and crew members aboard the Caribbean Princess have reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness during the vessel’s current 13-night Southern Caribbean itinerary, according to information released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through its Vessel Sanitation Program.
The outbreak was formally recorded on May 7th after the number of cases exceeded the reporting threshold established for cruise vessels operating under CDC monitoring protocols.
Health authorities reported that 102 of the ship’s 3,116 passengers, representing approximately 3.3% of those on board, experienced symptoms associated with gastrointestinal illness. Among the crew, 13 of 1,131 personnel were also affected during the voyage.
The ship departed Fort Lauderdale on April 28th and is scheduled to complete the cruise in Port Canaveral on May 11th. The itinerary has continued as planned, including calls at Amber Cove and Nassau.
In response to the increase in illness cases, Princess Cruises implemented enhanced sanitation and disinfection measures in accordance with the company’s outbreak prevention procedures. Crew members isolated affected passengers and staff, collected samples for laboratory analysis, and maintained coordination with the CDC regarding reporting and sanitation practices.
Laboratory testing remains underway to determine whether the outbreak is linked to Norovirus, one of the most common causes of gastrointestinal illness aboard cruise vessels.
Following completion of the voyage, the vessel and terminal facilities are expected to undergo extensive cleaning and disinfection procedures before embarking the next group of passengers.
For more Caribbean Princess incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page