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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States confirmed an outbreak of norovirus on board the Caribbean Princess, a Princess Cruises ship that departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on April 28.
So far, a total of 115 people - 102 passengers and 13 crew members - have reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness during the trip.
The outbreak was reported to the CDC's Ship Sanitation Program last Thursday, May 7, according to the official report from NBC Miami.
The 102 affected passengers represent 3.3% of the 3,116 traveling on board, while the 13 sick crew members account for 1.2% of the 1,131 that make up the ship's staff.
The predominant symptoms reported were diarrhea and vomiting, the classic signs of acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus.
In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises and the crew of the Caribbean Princess immediately implemented several measures: they increased cleaning and disinfection procedures in accordance with their prevention plan, collected stool samples from the cases for laboratory analysis, isolated sick passengers and crew members, and consulted with the CDC regarding sanitation procedures.
The company issued a statement acknowledging the situation: "A limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the Caribbean Princess cruise on April 28 from Port Everglades."
In addition, Princess Cruises assured that "they disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitation throughout the journey."
The CDC, for its part, announced that it has initiated a field response with an environmental assessment and investigation of the outbreak to help the vessel manage the situation.
This is not the first norovirus outbreak that Princess Cruises has faced in 2026. In March, the Star Princess reported 153 affected -104 passengers and 49 crew members- during a trip through the Caribbean, in a more serious episode than the current one.
In total, this is the fourth confirmed gastrointestinal outbreak on U.S.-flagged cruise ships this year, all caused by norovirus.
In February 2025, a Royal Caribbean ship reported an outbreak with dozens affected, and another cruise arrived in Fort Lauderdale with over 100 gastrointestinal cases on board.
Norovirus is the leading cause of outbreaks of diarrhea and vomiting in the United States, according to the CDC. It spreads easily in closed environments such as cruise ships through direct contact between people, the consumption of contaminated food or liquids, and contact with contaminated surfaces.
Cruise ships are legally required to report to the CDC when 3% or more of their passengers or crew exhibit symptoms of acute gastroenteritis.
In 2025, a Royal Caribbean cruise arrived in Miami with a hundred sick passengers, highlighting that norovirus outbreaks at sea continue to be a recurring issue in the industry.
The Caribbean Princess is scheduled to arrive at Port Canaveral on May 11, a date when, according to Princess Cruises, the ship "will undergo a thorough cleaning and disinfection before setting sail on its next voyage."
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