Over 180 passengers fell ill with a gastrointestinal illness on a Royal Caribbean cruise traveling through Canada last week. The incident occurred onboard the Radiance of the Seas, affecting 180 out of 2,172 passengers, as well as three staff members. Symptoms reported included diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, and muscle aches.
The cruise ship was en route to Alaska, with planned stops in Vancouver, Canada and Seaward, Alaska. The voyage commenced on September 20 and concluded last Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributed the illness to salmonella. Royal Caribbean has been contacted for comment by The Independent, and USA Today received a statement from the cruise liner stating that the health and safety of guests, crew, and communities are their utmost priority.
In response to the outbreak, Royal Caribbean initiated measures such as collecting stool specimens from affected individuals for testing, enhancing cleaning and disinfection protocols as specified in their outbreak prevention and response plan, and issuing announcements to inform passengers onboard about the outbreak. This is not the first time the Radiance of the Seas has been involved in such an incident this year. In April, 70 people onboard contracted norovirus. Royal Caribbean has seen a total of three outbreaks this year out of a recorded 10 cruise ship outbreaks. Seven of these outbreaks were due to norovirus.
The cruise industry has been actively addressing health and safety concerns onboard their ships, implementing stringent cleaning procedures that exceed public health guidelines. Passengers and crew members can expect heightened vigilance and preventive measures in the wake of such incidents to ensure a safe and enjoyable travel experience.