Over 100 People Fall Ill in Celebrity Cruises Gastrointestinal Outbreak
A recent gastrointestinal outbreak on a Celebrity Cruises ship has affected more than 100 people, including 95 guests and nine crew members. The affected vessel, Celebrity Eclipse, was sailing an eight-day Caribbean cruise round-trip from Fort Lauderdale when the outbreak occurred. The voyage ended on December 28, with symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea reported by the ill passengers and crew.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed the causative agent as unknown and confirmed that the cruise line implemented heightened disinfection and cleaning measures, as well as isolating sick passengers and employees. However, Celebrity Cruises did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
This outbreak is one of 22 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks logged by the CDC on cruises that met its threshold for public notification this year. Out of these, 16 were caused by norovirus, which is a common culprit for such outbreaks. In 2024, norovirus caused 15 out of 18 total outbreaks, and in 2023, it caused 13 out of 14. Despite these numbers, cruises only represent 1% of reported outbreaks, according to the CDC.
Sarah R. Michaels, an assistant professor at Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, noted that outbreaks often go unnoticed in communities where people are in close contact. She emphasized that such environments, including daycare facilities, nursing homes, and cruise ships, are more likely to be diagnosed, reported, and brought to attention due to the close proximity of individuals.
For those interested in learning more or sharing their thoughts, the consumer travel reporter Nathan Diller can be reached at ndiller@usatoday.com.
