Overview
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that 102 passengers and 23 crew reported acute gastrointestinal illness on the Ruby Princess during a June 12–July 2 Alaska and Canada voyage.
- Princess Cruises reported that crew isolated sick people, collected stool samples, and increased cleaning and disinfection under its outbreak response plan while the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program reviewed the ship’s actions remotely.
- The ship carried 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew during the voyage and docked in San Francisco on Thursday for a comprehensive cleaning before its next scheduled sailing.
- This is the third norovirus outbreak reported on a Princess ship in 2026 and one of seven cruise-ship gastrointestinal outbreaks logged so far this year, a pattern that draws extra regulatory scrutiny.
- Norovirus spreads easily in close quarters through contaminated food, surfaces, or direct contact so passengers should wash hands with soap and water, report symptoms to ship medical staff, and avoid travel while ill to limit further spread.