Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty discusses 2Q earnings and vacation bookings on ‘Cavuto: Coast to Coast.’
Eighty-nine passengers and two crew members experienced gastrointestinal illness symptoms aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship returning to Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
The Radiance of the Seas departed Florida for a seven-day western Caribbean cruise on Feb. 1, according to cruise tracking website CruiseMapper. Its planned stops included two in Mexico, one in Honduras and one in Belize.
The outbreak was reported to the CDC’s vessel sanitation program on Tuesday. Those who have fallen ill have experienced diarrhea and vomiting. At this time, the CDC says the cause is unknown.
Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to a FOX Business request for comment, but told USA Today, “Enhanced measures have been implemented onboard in an abundance of caution to protect the health and comfort of all our guests and crew.”
NATIONAL PLAN FOR VACATION DAY ENCOURAGES AMERICANS TO ARRANGE TRAVEL PLANS
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas docked at Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia. (Royal Caribbean / Fox News)
Ill passengers and crew were isolated from others, the CDC said, and “increased cleaning and disinfection procedures” were implemented.
Cruise ships must report gastrointestinal illnesses to the CDC, the agency noted.
“Cases reported are totals for the entire voyage,” the CDC’s website states. “It does not mean all people are sick at the same time, such as when they arrive or leave a port or ship.”
NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK ON PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP LEAVES DOZENS OF PASSENGERS, CREW SICK: CDC
Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas enters the Victoria Shipyards in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, to start her 22-day dry dock on May 23, 2011. (Royal Caribbean / Fox News)
While Norovirus is “often a cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships,” the CDC says determining the cause “can take time.” Stool specimens from impacted passengers were collected to aid in the investigation.
The CDC provides tips for healthy cruising here.
Radiance of the Seas’ outdoor movie screen on June 9, 2011. (Royal Caribbean / Fox News)
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
Radiance of the Seas is an almost 24-year-old ship which underwent improvements during a 2011 dry dock, according to Royal Caribbean’s website. It can hold 2,143 guests under double-occupancy conditions and up to 894 international crew members.
