The cruise ship Caribbean Princess arrived at Port Canaveral on Monday morning after completing its 13-day Caribbean voyage, following confirmation of a norovirus outbreak that affected more than 100 passengers and a number of crew members, prompting a federal health investigation coordinated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The vessel, which departed Fort Lauderdale on April 28th, reported 102 passengers and 13 crew members as having fallen ill during the sailing, with symptoms consistent with norovirus, including vomiting and diarrhoea. The CDC recorded the outbreak on May 7th, shortly before the ship’s scheduled arrival in Florida.
In response, Princess Cruises implemented enhanced sanitation protocols onboard, including intensified cleaning cycles, isolation of affected individuals, and collection of medical samples for testing, while coordinating with federal health authorities on outbreak management procedures. The ship is scheduled to undergo a full deep-cleaning operation before its next departure.
Passenger accounts indicated that additional sanitation measures were introduced during the voyage, with frequent public announcements from the bridge advising travellers on hygiene precautions and visible cleaning activity across shared spaces. One disembarking passenger described the emphasis on hand hygiene and precautionary behaviour as standard practice under the circumstances, while noting that the situation would not deter future cruising.
The CDC continues to review the outbreak as part of its routine Vessel Sanitation Program oversight of cruise ship illnesses, with norovirus identified as the causative agent, a virus known for rapid transmission in enclosed environments.
For more Caribbean Princess incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page