By Lois McCarthy,Sam Truelove

Copyright walesonline

What began as a dream getaway quickly turned into a nightmare for dozens of passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise. An outbreak of norovirus – a highly contagious stomach bug – was reported on the Serenade of the Seas on Sunday, September 28. The news has prompted an official notification to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It has been confirmed that out of the 1,874 passengers on board, 94 have fallen ill, along with four crew members from a team of 883. Norovirus is notorious for spreading rapidly in close quarters like cruise ships. According to the CDC, common symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, muscle aches, headache, and fever. The illness is typically defined by the onset of three or more loose stools within 24 hours. Royal Caribbean and health officials are now working to contain the outbreak and ensure the wellbeing of everyone on board. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here The vessel left San Diego on September 19 and has called at ports in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia. It is due to arrive at Miami on Thursday, October 2. Royal Caribbean has “increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan”, the CDC confirmed. Those who have become ill have also provided stool samples for testing, reports the Mirror . Passengers and crew members displaying symptoms have been quarantined, whilst the cruise ship has liaised with the Vessel Sanitation Programme, which is operated by the CDC, “about sanitation cleaning procedures and reporting ill cases”. “The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority,” Royal Caribbean Group told USA TODAY. “To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.” There have been 19 outbreaks of stomach bugs on cruise vessels this year so far, with 14 of these being attributed to norovirus, the CDC has reported. The illness was responsible for 15 of 18 outbreaks on cruise liners in 2024, and 13 out of 14 the previous year. “While the number of recent cruise ship outbreaks has been higher than in years prior to the pandemic, we do not yet know if this represents a new trend,” the health agency told USA TODAY. “However, CDC data show a newly dominant strain is currently associated with reported norovirus outbreaks on land. Ships typically follow the pattern of land-based outbreaks, which are higher this norovirus season.” According to Royal Caribbean, the Serenade of the Seas boasts “panoramic views and acres of glass” which “ensure that you’ll never miss a moment of the surrounding scenery”. The firm stated: “In between adventures onshore, you can soak up the sun poolside, tee off on the mini golf green and dig into world-class flavours that will take you from Tuscany to Tokyo.” The website stated: “When you cruise on Serenade of the Seas, adventure has no curfew. Fill your sea days with award winning onboard activities, like putt-putt parties on the mini golf green, all your favourite games at the arcade and laid back lounging on the pool deck. Then kick your night out up a notch with musicals in the Main Theatre, dancing under the stars and classic cocktails at R Bar.” This most recent norovirus incident follows a comparable outbreak aboard another Royal Caribbean vessel in July. 134 passengers travelling on Navigator of the Seas became unwell between July 4 and July 11, alongside seven crew members. In February, a similar norovirus episode was documented on Radiance of the Seas between February 1 and February 8, affecting 160 passengers and eight staff members. Norovirus spreads incredibly easily and “is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea”, the NHS explains. Primary symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Sufferers may also develop a high temperature, headache, abdominal pain and general aches and pains.