Norovirus Outbreak on Caribbean Princess Cruise Ship Affects Over 100 Passengers
- More than 100 people have fallen ill due to a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship during a voyage that began on April 28, 2026.
- The CDC reported that 102 of the 3,116 passengers, or 3.3%, and 13 of the 1,131 crew members, or 1.2%, experienced symptoms including vomiting, and diarrhea.
- The Caribbean Princess departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 28 for a 13-night Southern Caribbean voyage.
More than 100 people have fallen ill due to a norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship during a voyage that began on April 28, 2026. According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 115 individuals were sickened by the gastrointestinal virus.
The CDC reported that 102 of the 3,116 passengers, or 3.3%, and 13 of the 1,131 crew members, or 1.2%, experienced symptoms including vomiting, and diarrhea. The outbreak was formally reported to the CDC on May 7, 2026.
Voyage Details and Response
The Caribbean Princess departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 28 for a 13-night Southern Caribbean voyage. Despite the illness reports, the ship continued with its planned itinerary, including a stop at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on May 8 and a visit to Nassau, Bahamas, on May 10.
The vessel is scheduled to arrive at Port Canaveral, Florida, on May 11, 2026. The CDC stated that in response to the outbreak, the ship and its crew increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, isolated those who had fallen ill, and collected stool specimens for testing.
Princess Cruises confirmed that the ship underwent comprehensive cleaning and disinfection upon its arrival at Port Canaveral before departing for its next voyage.
Industry Context and Reporting Thresholds
Under the guidelines of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, cruise ships are required to report gastrointestinal outbreaks once 3% of the onboard population becomes ill. The passenger infection rate on the Caribbean Princess reached 3.3%, triggering the reporting requirement.
This incident marks the fourth outbreak reported on U.S.-based cruise ships in 2026. It is also the second outbreak for Princess Cruises this year; in March, the Star Princess experienced a norovirus outbreak that sickened more than 150 people.
Princess Cruises can confirm that a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the April 28 Caribbean Princess voyage from Port Everglades. We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitizing throughout the voyage. Princess Cruises