More than 100 people aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship have been struck down by a norovirus outbreak during its current Southern Caribbean voyage, with passengers reporting vomiting and diarrhoea.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 102 of the 3,116 passengers and 13 of the 1,131 crew members have reported gastrointestinal symptoms since the ship departed Fort Lauderdale on 28 April 2026.
The outbreak was officially reported to the CDC on 7 May 2026 after cases exceeded the 3% reporting threshold for cruise vessels. 29f1
The predominant symptoms have been vomiting and diarrhoea, which are classic signs of norovirus — a highly contagious stomach bug that spreads quickly in close quarters like cruise ships.
Princess Cruises says it has implemented enhanced sanitation and disinfection measures, including isolating sick passengers and crew, collecting stool samples for testing, and stepping up cleaning throughout the vessel.
The ship is scheduled to dock at Port Canaveral on 11 May 2026, where it will undergo a comprehensive deep clean before its next voyage.
The itinerary has continued as planned, with stops at Amber Cove and Nassau. The CDC says the risk to the wider public remains low, and most people recover from norovirus within 1 to 3 days without medical treatment.
This is the fourth gastrointestinal outbreak on a US-based cruise ship in 2026 and the second norovirus case for Princess Cruises this year.
