Over 100 People Sick in Outbreak on Princess Cruises Ship in the Caribbean
Cruise Hive • • business
Key Points:
- Over 100 passengers and 13 crew members aboard the Caribbean Princess have fallen ill with norovirus during its 13-night Southern Caribbean cruise, marking the fourth norovirus outbreak on US-based cruise ships in 2026.
- The outbreak, confirmed by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) on May 7, affects 3.3% of passengers and 1.2% of crew, triggering enhanced cleaning and isolation protocols onboard to prevent further spread.
- Despite the outbreak, the Caribbean Princess will continue its scheduled itinerary with no reported changes, including stops in Amber Cove, Dominican Republic, and Nassau, Bahamas, before concluding in Port Canaveral on May 11.
- Princess Cruises is conducting thorough disinfection of the ship and terminal before the next cruise departs, and passengers on the upcoming sailing are advised to monitor communications for any potential embarkation changes.
- Although recent outbreaks may cause concern, CDC data shows a significant 76.5% decrease in gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships under VSP jurisdiction compared to 2025, indicating an overall downward trend in such incidents.
