Norovirus Food Poisoning Hits Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas Cruise

About 150 passengers and at least three crew members aboard the Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas cruise ship are believed to have contracted food poisoning that was likely caused by norovirus

The Radiance of the Seas cruise ship and its 2,300 passengers returned to port in Tampa, Florida on January 8 after a 5-day cruise to Cozumel and Puerto Maya in Mexico. As the illnesses swept through the ship, the passengers were warned not to touch menus and silverware.

Royal Caribbean officials said that the illnesses were short-lived and that people who fell ill responded well to over-the-counter medications given out onboard. The ship was sanitized before heading out on another cruise later that evening.

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Symptoms of gastroenteritis from norovirus in humans can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping and sometimes low-grade fevers, chills, headaches, muscle aches and tiredness. The symptoms hit suddenly, and last for about several days. Death is uncommon.

Norovirus is extremely contagious, and is found in the stool and vomit of infected people. It is most often spread through unsanitary food preparation.

Officials have not confirmed that norovirus was the cause of the illness on the Radiance of the Seas.

Last year, norovirus outbreaks are believed to have killed three people and sickened 44 others in Central State Hospital in Louisiana, and also led to an oyster recall after an outbreak in Louisiana and Mississippi sickened at least 11 people.

Photo Courtesy of Loyalty4life via Wikimedia Commons from public domain

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2 Comments

  • cynthiaApril 1, 2012 at 5:36 am

    I have traveled to different states, last year went to Playa Del Carmen Mexico for our honeymoon...food was great and never sick. This was my second cruise, first time on Royal Caribbean..I believe I had food poisoning, they gave me immodium but it was so bad about 6 hours later my face started swelling, they then gave me shots and I passed out for afew seconds..The food was not good and I will n[Show More]I have traveled to different states, last year went to Playa Del Carmen Mexico for our honeymoon...food was great and never sick. This was my second cruise, first time on Royal Caribbean..I believe I had food poisoning, they gave me immodium but it was so bad about 6 hours later my face started swelling, they then gave me shots and I passed out for afew seconds..The food was not good and I will never take another cruise..The medical team was very nice but I know it was the food.

  • JoanneJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:47 am

    This virus/food poisoning was awful to experience. Royal Caribbean was not prepared to handle this situation. Proper preperation were not taken to ensure such a virus did not spread rapidly; however, after the fact, the cruise line did take the best precautions possible. They did not handle the quarantining of passengers properly, nor did they handle taking care of their sick passengers after the [Show More]This virus/food poisoning was awful to experience. Royal Caribbean was not prepared to handle this situation. Proper preperation were not taken to ensure such a virus did not spread rapidly; however, after the fact, the cruise line did take the best precautions possible. They did not handle the quarantining of passengers properly, nor did they handle taking care of their sick passengers after the fact. The medical team did the best they could, but did not supply the sick passengers with any documentation regarding the treatment they administered and the side-effects. I am glad I was able to write down the names of the shots they adminstered so that I coudl look them up when I got home. This was a very scary situation.

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