More than 140 people aboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas have fallen ill with vomiting and diarrhoea during a round-trip cruise from Los Angeles to Mexico. The outbreak affected 134 passengers and seven crew members after the ship departed from LA on 4 July.
The vessel docked in Puerto Vallarta on 8 July and returned to Los Angeles on 11 July. Passengers who reported illness were isolated, and the ship was thoroughly cleaned. Stool samples were also collected for testing, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program.
Vomiting and diarrhoea are common signs of norovirus, commonly known as the stomach flu. It can also cause fever, headache, and body aches, with most people recovering within one to three days. The outbreak follows a similar incident last September when 180 people became sick on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas during an Alaska cruise.
Navigator of the Seas, which debuted in 2002 and was refurbished in 2019, can hold up to 3,300 guests. It regularly sails from Los Angeles to Mexican destinations and features 17 bars, over 12 dining options, three pools, six whirlpools, and attractions including a rock climbing wall and surf simulator.
