Particle.news

Download on the App Store

CDC Investigates Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreak on Navigator of the Seas

Stool samples from 134 passengers and seven crew members remain under analysis by the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 02: An aerial view from a drone shows Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked at PortMiami on March 02, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Royal Caribbean Group announced plans to use the proceeds from a $1.5 billion sale of shares to pay off debt stemming from the pandemic. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The Navigator of the Seas cruise ship while docked at the CocoCay port where people can enjoy the private beach, food, drinks, and activities, Bahamas, October 12, 2019.
Navigator of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International.

Overview

  • A gastrointestinal illness sickened 134 of the 3,914 passengers and seven of the 1,266 crew during the July 4–11 round-trip cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico
  • Affected individuals reported vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea as their primary symptoms
  • The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program has not yet identified the causative agent pending laboratory testing of collected stool specimens
  • Royal Caribbean implemented heightened cleaning, disinfection and isolation protocols in response to the outbreak
  • This incident is one of 18 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships reported to the CDC so far in 2025, matching last year’s total