Dozens Quarantined After ‘Outbreak’ on Cruise Ship

A luxury Royal Caribbean voyage turned into a stomach-churning ordeal after more than 70 passengers and crew were struck by a violent outbreak of norovirus.

The CDC confirmed that at least 71 guests and one crew member aboard the Serenade of the Seas fell ill with severe gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. The outbreak was reported Sunday, September 28, just days before the ship was set to complete its two-week trip from San Diego to Miami.

The Serenade of the Seas—a vessel carrying 1,874 passengers and 883 crew—had been at sea since September 19. By the CDC’s count, nearly 4% of everyone on board was hit with the bug.

Those who fell sick were immediately isolated to prevent the illness from spreading. “We take this very seriously. When passengers and crew tell the medical center about their symptoms, it allows outbreaks to be detected quickly and contained,” the CDC said in a statement.

Royal Caribbean acknowledged the outbreak but stressed that safety remained their “top priority.” In a statement to PEOPLE, a company spokesperson insisted, “We implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.”

According to officials, the company ramped up sanitation protocols, increased disinfection efforts across public areas, and collected stool samples for testing. The ship has also been working with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, which is remotely monitoring the situation.

Some travelers described the atmosphere on board as tense and unsettling. “You could see people disappearing from dinner tables one by one. Everyone’s whispering about who’s next,” one passenger wrote on social media. Another commented, “The crew is doing their best, but people are scared. No one wants to be stuck sick in a cabin.”

This isn’t an isolated case. Norovirus, often called the “cruise ship virus,” has already struck 19 ships this year, with 14 of those outbreaks confirmed as norovirus by the CDC. Known for spreading rapidly in close quarters, the virus is infamous for derailing vacations and locking down entire vessels.

Cruise health experts note that outbreaks, while disruptive, are not uncommon. “Norovirus thrives in environments where people are eating, drinking, and living close together,” said Dr. Ellen Carver, a public health specialist. “Ships have strict cleaning policies, but the virus is notoriously hard to contain once it gets on board.”

The Serenade of the Seas is scheduled to dock in Miami on October 2, but passengers may not forget this trip anytime soon. What was meant to be a dream cruise through the Pacific has instead become a harsh reminder of how quickly illness can spread at sea.