Royal Caribbean Norovirus Outbreak (2026): 70+ Passengers Sick — Symptoms, Causes & Safety Tips
The Royal Caribbean cruise ship involved in the reported norovirus outbreak. A norovirus outbreak on Royal Caribbean ’s Serenade of the Seas during a Sep–Oct 2025 sailing affected over 70 passengers and crew. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) monitored the response through its Vessel Sanitation Program. Most cases were mild, but early symptom reporting, isolation, and strict hygiene helped limit spread. A luxury cruise journey turned into a public-health response scenario. During a Panama Canal repositioning voyage in late September 2025, a norovirus outbreak aboard Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas led to dozens of passengers and crew falling ill with gastrointestinal symptoms. As soon as the illness cluster was identified, the cruise line activated its outbreak-control protocols — isolating affected individuals, collecting stool samples for testing, and intensifying ship-wide cleaning and disinfection. Public-health oversight was provided remotely by t...