What began as a joyous celebration for a multi-generational family swiftly turned into a holiday from hell when a vicious 'super-flu' ripped through their cruise ship, leaving nearly a dozen relatives severely ill and sparking chaos onboard.
A Celebration Descends Into Chaos
Ellie Doyle, 34, her husband Michael, 41, and their three young children had joined Ellie's parents, her four siblings, and their children for a special seven-day Royal Caribbean cruise. The trip aboard the Independence of the Seas was meant to mark her parents' 50th wedding anniversary, with stops planned for Nassau, San Juan, and St Thomas.
The nightmare began when their two-year-old daughter, Norah, who has childhood asthma, was the first to fall ill. Her father faced a frantic 20-minute ordeal navigating the 15-deck vessel to find the infirmary, being sent on what the family described as a 'wild goose chase'. Soon after, Norah's twin brother, Porter, and their six-year-old sister, Maisie, succumbed to the bug.
The illness, described by doctors as a highly contagious and aggressive strain of influenza, then swept through the rest of the party. Ellie's 77-year-old father, a kidney transplant recipient, and her 73-year-old mother fell sick, followed by nieces, nephews, and siblings. Symptoms ranged from high fevers and severe body aches to vomiting and breathing difficulties, with some relatives running temperatures as high as 104°F and contracting strep throat.
Shipboard Crisis and Communication Breakdown
As the situation escalated, the family's ordeal became part of a wider crisis onboard. Ellie reported that the ship had to change course twice for medical emergencies, including an unscheduled stop at Turks and Caicos to evacuate a passenger. 'The ship completely went off path,' she claimed.
The onboard infirmary was described as 'packed', with one doctor reportedly responsible for over 4,000 passengers. Ellie, a digital content creator, observed a palpable strain among crew members and a critical lack of communication. 'When we were first checking into the infirmary, we felt like they were annoyed that we were there,' she said, adding that staff seemed more concerned with the cruise line's reputation and itinerary than patient care.
Public areas were affected too, with the solarium closed due to bathrooms 'backed up with either poop or puke', and large water slides shut at various times. The atmosphere among passengers was one of anxiety, with sickbay queues and the sound of coughing filling the hallways.
Aftermath and a Warning to Others
After disembarking in Miami on Sunday, January 4, the family's suffering continued during the two-day drive back to West Hartford, Connecticut, with children vomiting throughout the journey. Once home, Ellie's husband tested positive for flu, and Ellie herself finally succumbed to the virus less than 48 hours later.
Reflecting on the trauma, Ellie noted that all three of her children had received their flu vaccinations, crediting the shots with preventing even worse illness. She issued a stark warning to other parents, stating she would 'not ever be cruising with young children, ever again,' especially during flu season. 'You can't leave. You don't have your creature comforts, and there's no way to go,' she explained.
The illness striking the family aligns with reports from health authorities about a severe flu season. The CDC has warned of a concerning new version of Influenza A, known as the H3N2 'subclade K' variant, which is contributing to a surge in hospitalisations. Experts stress that vaccination remains crucial, particularly for the young, elderly, and immunocompromised.
Royal Caribbean International did not respond to requests for comment on the incident. For Ellie Doyle, the dream anniversary trip has become a 'lesson learned' and a story of a holiday that left her needing 'a vacation from my vacation'.
