More than 100 passengers and crew members aboard the Caribbean Princess were sickened during a norovirus outbreak that spread across the vessel during a two-week Caribbean voyage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak affected 102 of the ship’s 3,116 passengers and 13 crew members, officials said. Those infected reportedly experienced symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea, two of the most common signs of the highly contagious stomach virus.
The cruise departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on April 28 and is scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on May 11. The outbreak was officially reported to the CDC on May 7.
In response, Princess Cruises said it immediately intensified sanitation efforts throughout the ship, including disinfecting public areas, isolating sick passengers and crew, and collecting stool samples for testing. The company also consulted with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program as part of its outbreak response procedures.
“Princess Cruises can confirm that a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the April 28 Caribbean Princess voyage,” the company said in a statement. Officials added that the vessel will undergo an extensive deep cleaning once it docks in Florida before beginning its next scheduled trip.
Health officials noted that norovirus spreads quickly in crowded spaces such as cruise ships, where passengers frequently share dining areas, handrails, and recreational facilities. Cruise industry experts say outbreaks often begin when infected travelers unknowingly board the ship while carrying the virus.
The CDC confirmed this marks another gastrointestinal outbreak aboard a cruise ship in 2026 and follows a separate Princess Cruises norovirus outbreak earlier this year that reportedly sickened nearly 200 people aboard the Star Princess.
