Royal Caribbean’s ‘Explorer of the Seas’: GI outbreak sickens 300 passengers and crew

Greater than 9 percent of the over 3,000 passengers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas have reported the gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, resembling norovirus,  on their 10-day voyage from Jan. 21 to Jan. 31, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) Friday.

Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas cruise ship Image/Video Screen Shot

Specifically, the VSP says 281 of 3,050 passengers (9.21 percent) have reported norovirus-type symptoms, as have 22 of 1,165 crewmembers (1.15 percent).

A CDC Vessel Sanitation Program environmental health officer and an epidemiologist will board the ship in St. Thomas, USVI tomorrow to conduct an epidemiologic investigation, environmental health assessment, and evaluate the outbreak and response activities.

In response to the outbreak, crew have increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, as well as public announcements notifying passengers of the outbreak and encouraging hand washing and case reporting.

The ship’s next voyage, scheduled to embark from Bayonne, NJ on January 31 has been delayed.

Just one week ago, it was reported that Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas had a smaller outbreak, affecting between 2-3% of passengers during a Caribbean voyage.

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