Princess Cruises Faces Third Illness Outbreak This Year

Princess Cruises experienced its third gastrointestinal outbreak of 2026 when over 120 individuals fell ill aboard the Ruby Princess. The affected voyage, which sailed between June 12 and July 2, saw 102 out of 3,032 guests report symptoms, alongside 23 crew members. Common symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea.

To manage the situation, the cruise line initiated increased sanitation measures and isolated sick passengers and crew, as confirmed by the CDC. This incident is part of a larger trend, with seven outbreaks meeting public notification thresholds reported on cruise ships so far in 2026.

Norovirus has been a frequent cause of cruise ship outbreaks in recent years. In 2025, 18 of the 23 reported outbreaks were attributed to norovirus. Despite its prevalence on ships, norovirus accounts for only a small percentage of overall outbreaks.

Experts note that close-contact environments like cruise ships are prone to illness transmission, leading to more frequent diagnoses and reporting compared to community settings.