MIAMI — Dozens of passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship have fallen ill with norovirus, health officials said.
The Serenade of the Seas, which departed from San Diego on Sept. 9 for a 13-night trip, is scheduled to arrive at PortMiami on Thursday morning, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report stated that 71 passengers and one crew member have reported symptoms, including diarrhea and vomiting, out of 1,874 passengers and 883 crew members.
The CDC classifies an outbreak as affecting at least 3% of those on board.
The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program is monitoring the situation, including a review of the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures, according to the report.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said in a statement that the “health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority” and that the company follows cleaning procedures that “far exceed public health guidelines.”
Norovirus spreads easily in environments like cruise ships, which have common areas, buffets, and shared utensils. Health experts recommend frequent handwashing and avoiding the sharing of personal items to prevent infection.
Officials said they will continue to monitor the outbreak and will speak with arriving passengers about their experience on board.
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