cruise ship sick passengers

Over 250 Cruise Ship Passengers Reported Sick With Possible Norovirus

C oncerns regarding health and safety on cruise ships have heightened by the news that more than 250 people on board the P&O ship Ventura became sick with symptoms similar to norovirus. This highly contagious virus is known for causing gastroenteritis. The Ventura embarked on a 14-night voyage to the Canary Islands on May 11. It has since been the subject of enhanced sanitation protocols to curb the spread of the illness.

Norovirus, often dubbed the “winter vomiting bug,” is notorious for its rapid spread in enclosed environments like cruise ships , hospitals, and schools. It causes symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain, which can be unpleasant for those affected. According to reports , the Ventura is almost at total capacity, with just under 3,000 passengers on board. Such a number makes the outbreak all the more concerning.

Disease Outbreaks on Cruise Ships

P&O Cruises and the Southampton Port Health Authority verified the virus’s presence. Passengers exhibiting symptoms had to isolate in their cabins to prevent further spread. The recent outbreak is not an isolated incident. The cruise industry has faced similar challenges in the past, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting several outbreaks aboard different cruise lines earlier this year. Notably, the Radiance of the Seas and Sapphire Princess saw almost 200 passengers sickened by the norovirus in April alone.

The outbreak on the Ventura prompted a response from health authorities, with Southampton Port Health Authority working alongside the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to assist with the ship’s return. The UKHSA had already noted an unusual spike in norovirus cases nationwide in April. Cruise ships are particularly susceptible to norovirus due to the close quarters in which passengers live, dine, and socialize . The virus can spread rapidly through contaminated food, surfaces, or contact with an infected person.

This latest outbreak has led to calls for increased vigilance and adherence to hygiene protocols among passengers and crew. Critics argue that more must be done. They suggest cruise lines should be very transparent about health risks. They should also take greater preventative measures. In response to the current situation, P&O Cruises has apologized to affected passengers and reiterated that their well-being is the highest priority.

Watch CBS News

More than 300 sickened on Ruby Princess cruise ship, CDC says

By Aliza Chasan

March 8, 2023 / 12:32 PM EST / CBS News

Hundreds of passengers and crew members fell ill while on board a Princess Cruises ship, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. 

In total, 284 of 2,881 passengers on the Ruby Princess reported being sick during the voyage between Feb. 26 and March 5, CDC investigators said , and 34 of the 1,159 crew members also reported illness. The symptoms reported were vomiting and diarrhea.

The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program epidemiologists and environmental health officers responded to the ship when it docked in Galveston, Texas on March 5, the agency said. They have not yet determined what caused the illnesses. 

Crew on the ship cleaned more frequently and used disinfection procedures once the outbreak began, the CDC said. They also collected stool samples for CDC analysis. 

Workers also directed sick passengers to isolate themselves in their rooms, a Princess Cruises spokesperson said. The company said the sickness was likely caused by norovirus, a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Norovirus, which is sometimes called the "cruise ship virus," causes more than 90% of diarrheal disease outbreaks on cruise ships , according to the CDC.

The Ruby Princess has since embarked on a new voyage, the company said. The latest group of passengers, currently on a seven-day Caribbean cruise, were told about the increased illnesses on the previous trip.

The Ruby Princess has made headlines in the past as the site of several COVID-19 outbreaks , including a 2020 cruise early in the coronavirus pandemic that docked in Australia with hundreds of positive cases on board.

In recent years, the CDC monitored COVID-19 outbreaks on cruise ships. The program tracking cases ended in July of 2022. 

Aliza Chasan is a Digital Content Producer for "60 Minutes" and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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CDC is investigating gastrointestinal sickness on luxury cruise ship Queen Victoria

SAN FRANCISCO — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an outbreak on a luxury cruise ship where more than 150 people have reported gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea and vomiting.

The Queen Victoria, operated by Cunard Cruise Line, departed San Francisco Wednesday on its way from Florida to Hawaii. The ship is carrying 1,800 passengers and 970 crew members.

The cause is unknown. Cunard told the CDC that the ship increased cleaning and disinfection, and isolated ill passengers and crew.

The reported cases are totals for the entire voyage and do not represent how many people are actively sick at any one time, the CDC said.

The company did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking more details.

The ship originated in Germany Jan. 9 and departed Florida Jan. 22, according to ship tracker Cruise Mapper. Its next stop is Honolulu, Hawaii, on Feb. 12 and ends in Australia next month.

The Associated Press

Norovirus: Nearly 200 sick in outbreaks on Princess, Royal Caribbean ships, CDC says

FILE - Tourists crowd upper decks and stateroom balconies as the Anthem of the Seas owned by Royal Caribbean International on Aug. 9, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Nearly 200 passengers on U.S. cruise ships suffered from diarrhea and vomiting in norovirus outbreaks in April, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reported that 94 of the 2,532 (3.71%) passengers on Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess ship reported getting sick during its current voyage. The 32-day, roundtrip cruise began on April 5 and ends on May 7, according to the cruise tracking and information site CruiseMapper . 

Another 20 of the 1,066 crew members on board also reported getting sick, the CDC said.

Cruise ship rescued 14 stranded at sea for over a week

This was the scene from the lunch buffet during the first full day of cruising for the Icon of the Seas. The crew rescued all 14 from the distressed boat which was dwarfed by the largest cruise ship in the world.

On Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas ship, 67 of the 1,993 (3.36%) total passengers on board became ill during a voyage that began on April 8 and ended on April 22, according to the agency. Two crew members aboard also got sick. 

In both of the norovirus outbreaks, the main symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting, the CDC said.

Princess Cruises told FOX Television Stations that "at the first sign" of an increase in passengers reporting gastrointestinal illnesses, "we immediately initiated additional enhanced sanitization procedures to interrupt the person-to-person spread of this virus."

"Our sanitization program, includes disinfection measures, isolation of ill passengers and communication to passengers about steps they can take to stay well while onboard," the company told FOX Television Stations.

Royal Caribbean International did not immediately return a request for comment, but the CDC said in its notice that the company also took several steps in response to the outbreak – including isolating the sick passengers and crew members and "increased cleaning and disinfection procedures." 

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Cruise ships expose passengers to high volumes of people and new environments, which can "create the risk for illness from contaminated food, or water or, more commonly, through person-to-person contact," the CDC says. 

The agency recommends that anyone feeling sick should report their illness. If it happens before the voyage, travelers can ask their cruise line about any possible alternative cruising options. 

Those on board should wash their hands often to prevent illness, as well as get plenty of rest and stay hydrated. 

This story was reported from Cincinnati.

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Recent projections, delegate tracker, latest election news, 139 passengers, crew sickened during gastrointestinal illness outbreak on queen victoria cruise: cdc.

The Cunard Cruise Line ship departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Jan. 22.

Nearly 140 people have fallen sick during a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on a three-week Queen Victoria cruise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overall, 123 passengers and 16 crew members have reported being ill during the voyage as of Thursday, according to the CDC . The cases are for the entire voyage and do not represent the number of active cases, the agency said.

MORE: Ultimate World Cruise journey goes viral as social media users track 9-month trip

The predominant symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, the CDC said. The cause of the outbreak is unknown, according to the CDC.

There are 1,824 passengers and 967 crew members on the ship in total, according to the CDC.

In response to the outbreak, the cruise line and crew have isolated ill passengers and crew and increased cleaning and disinfection procedures "according to the ship’s outbreak prevention and response plan," the CDC said.

"Cunard confirmed that a small number of guests had reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness on board Queen Victoria," Cunard said in a statement. "They immediately activated their enhanced health and safety protocols to ensure the wellbeing of all guests and crew on board."

"Measures have been effective," the statement continued.

The cruise is scheduled to go to San Francisco before ending in Honolulu on Feb. 12.

The CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program is monitoring the situation remotely, including "reviewing the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures," the agency said.

MORE: 'Devastated': Passengers speak out after Bahamas-bound cruise diverted to New England, Canada over weather

This is the second cruise outbreak reported by the CDC so far this year. Last month, 100 people -- including 92 passengers and eight crew members -- were reported ill during a Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Constellation cruise that sailed from Jan. 3 to Jan. 12. The cause was norovirus, the CDC said.

The CDC logged 14 outbreaks on cruise ships in 2023, mostly caused by norovirus.

Medical staff on cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction must report gastrointestinal illness cases to the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program when at least 2% of passengers or crew have a gastrointestinal illness.

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C.D.C. Investigating Gastrointestinal Illness on Luxury Cruise Ship

The Queen Victoria was on its way to Honolulu from San Francisco on a 107-night world cruise when more than 150 people on board reported symptoms, officials said.

By Johnny Diaz

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an outbreak on a luxury cruise ship after more than 150 people reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea and vomiting.

The ship, the Queen Victoria, operated by Cunard Line, departed Southampton, England, on Jan. 11 on a 107-night cruise that included recent stops in Florida and San Francisco, according to the company’s website . The ship is scheduled to arrive in Honolulu on Monday.

The C.D.C. said that, as of Thursday, 129 passengers and 25 crew members had reported being ill on the ship. The agency said 1,824 passengers and 967 crew members were aboard at the time of the outbreak.

The cause of the illnesses was unknown, the agency said.

In a statement, Cunard Line, which is based in Southampton, said that “a number of guests had reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness” on the ship, which arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday after stops in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama and Aruba.

The cruise line “immediately activated their enhanced health and safety protocols to ensure the well being of all guests and crew on board and these measures have been effective,” the company said.

In response to the outbreak, the crew of the Queen Victoria have “increased cleaning and disinfection procedures” and have “isolated ill passengers and crew,” the C.D.C. said.

The agency said that it was remotely monitoring the situation, including “reviewing the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.”

The ship left San Francisco for Honolulu on Wednesday and was traveling off the west coast of the United States on Thursday, according to the ship-tracking website Cruise Mapper .

After it arrives in Hawaii on Monday, the ship’s scheduled stops include Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.

Though intestinal illness can spread quickly on cruise ships, outbreaks are infrequent, according to the C.D.C.

One high-profile outbreak took place in 2014, when 595 passengers and 50 crew members aboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas fell ill with bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, forcing the ship to return early to New Jersey.

Acute gastrointestinal illnesses, including the highly contagious norovirus, are associated with cruise ships because close quarters among passengers and crew members increase the amount of group contact, the agency said.

People who are infected when they board the ship may spread viruses to other passengers and crew.

Public health officials track illnesses on cruise ships so “outbreaks are found and reported more quickly on a cruise ship than on land,” the C.D.C. said.

Johnny Diaz is a general assignment reporter covering breaking news. He previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel and The Boston Globe. More about Johnny Diaz

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Over 100 cruise passengers sickened after gastrointestinal illness outbreak

Cunard's queen victoria is underway on a 107-night cruise.

Cruise industry seeing summer boom with pandemic restrictions lifted

Cruise ships are seeing more people come on board this summer, as 31.5 million people are expected to cruise this year. That would be more than the last full year before the pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 120 guests became sick with an illness while sailing on the Cunard Cruise Line's Queen Victoria ship.

The unwell guests have reported experiencing a gastrointestinal illness that caused symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting, according to the agency .

There have also been 15 cases of gastrointestinal illness among crew members.

The luxury cruise liner Queen Victoria, owned by Cunard, is seen on its way to the Port of Southampton n England on Dec. 7, 2007. (Mike Jones/Kos Picture Source via / Getty Images)

The CDC noted the numbers for sick passengers and crew on the Queen Victoria are the totals for a Jan. 22-Feb. 12 stint and "do not represent the number of active (symptomatic) gastrointestinal cases at any given port of call or at disembarkation." 

CRUISE SHIP HIT BY ROGUE WAVE DURING STORM, LOSES ABILITY TO NAVIGATE

Cunard confirmed to FOX Business that a "small number of guests had reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness on board Queen Victoria." 

"They immediately activated their enhanced health and safety protocols to ensure the well-being of all guests and crew onboard," a spokesperson for the cruise line said.

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Cunard "increased cleaning and disinfection procedures," the CDC said. It also separated the sick people from others onboard.

Cunard's Queen Victoria approaches Stockholm on July 11, 2014. (James D Morgan via Getty Images)

The cause of the outbreak on the ship is currently unknown.

The Queen Victoria, which is underway on a 107-night cruise , can host over 2,000 passengers at a time, according to Cunard. The CDC said it had 1,824 guests on board for the Jan. 22-Feb. 12 stint.

CARNIVAL JUBILEE CRUISE SHIP RESCUES 2 MEN STRANDED IN GULF OF MEXICO

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140 Passengers Sick with Gastrointestinal Illness on 55-Day Cruise Aboard Queen Victoria, CDC Says

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the outbreak affected 128 of the 1,824 passengers on the ship and a number of crew members

A gastrointestinal illness has left nearly 140 passengers traveling on the Cunard Queen Victoria cruise ship sick.

According to the Centers for Disease Control , the outbreak affected 128 of the 1,824 passengers on the ship. Amongst the crew, 25 of the 967 staff reported catching the illness. Their symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting.

The CDC reported that the cause of the illness and how it spread remains unknown.

In response the the outbreak, the CDC also confirmed in their statement that the Cunard Cruise Line and the crew aboard the ship have increased cleaning and disinfection procedures. They've also recommended that sick passengers remain isolated.

Cunard Cruise Line did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Never miss a story — sign up for  PEOPLE's free daily newsletter  to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"Cunard confirms that a small number of guests had reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness on board Queen Victoria," the company told NBC News in a statement.

"They immediately activated their enhanced health and safety protocols to ensure the well-being of all guests and crew on board. Measures have been effective,” Cunard added.

The ship's 55-day voyage began in Southampton, U.K. on January 9, according to ship tracking site Cruise Mapper . It reached Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Jan. 22, shortly after which the spread seems to have begun, per ABC .

It is currently in San Francisco and bound for Hawaii, after which it will continue on to Australia by march 4. The Vessel Sanitation Program is also currently monitoring the situation.

Related Articles

120 passengers on Cunard Cruise got sick with diarrhea and vomiting from an unknown cause

• Over 100 passengers and some crew on Cunard Cruise Line's Queen Victoria got sick, the CDC said.
• Symptoms included diarrhea and vomiting, but the cause was unknown on Wednesday.
• The cruise was in Florida on January 22 and has recently been in Central America.

More than 100 passengers and some staff members sailing on Cunard Cruise Line's Queen Victoria ship fell ill from an unknown cause this month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

The CDC on Wednesday said 120 passengers and 15 crew members fell ill during a voyage that started on January 22 and goes until February 12. Symptoms included diarrhea and vomiting.

According to data compiled by CruiseMapper , the Queen Victoria was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 22, and in the week since has been in Aruba and the Panama Canal. The cruise ship was in Guatemala as of Tuesday, according to the itinerary, and is set to arrive in Honolulu around February 12.

Related stories

The CDC said the cause of the gastrointestinal illness was unknown but that Cunard Cruise Line was taking additional health and safety protocols, including more disinfecting and isolating people who are sick.

The CDC also noted the count of those who got sick was the total for the length of the voyage and did not necessarily reflect the number of people who were actively sick at any one time.

Cunard did not immediately respond to Business a request for comment from Business Insider. A spokesperson for the cruise line told Fox Business : "They immediately activated their enhanced health and safety protocols to ensure the well-being of all guests and crew onboard."

The Queen Victoria, which can accommodate 2,061 guests, had a total of 1,824 passengers on board, the CDC said.

The CDC, which tracks outbreaks on cruise ships , also has tips for travelers to stay safe on board despite the increased exposure to other people and the potential for illness.

Earlier in January, the CDC reported an outbreak of norovirus on a Celebrity Cruises ship . The agency said 100 people, including passengers and crew, got sick, with the main symptoms being vomiting and diarrhea.

The CDC also randomly inspects cruise ships in an attempt to curb the spread of stomach viruses at sea. In January 2023, Cunard's Queen Victoria received a high sanitation score, 95 out of 100.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

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• Vessel Sanitation Program
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• Addressing AGE on Cruise Ships

Celebrity Summit May 2024

At a glance.

Learn about the gastrointestinal illness outbreak on Celebrity Cruises ship Celebrity Summit in May 2024, including outbreak details and actions taken in response.

Outbreak details

Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Ship: Celebrity Summit

Voyage Dates: May 24–May 31, 2024

Voyage number: 58044

Number of passengers who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 68 of 2,264 (3%)

Number of crew who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 5 of 943 (0.53%)

Predominant symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting

Causative agent: norovirus

Actions in response to the outbreak

In response to the outbreak, Celebrity Cruises and the crew aboard the ship reported the following actions:

• Collected stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases for testing.
• Isolated ill passengers and crew.
• Staged disembarkation for active cases to limit the opportunity of illness transmission to well guests.
• Sanitation of terminal and transport infection control procedures.

VSP remotely monitored the situation, including review of the ship's outbreak response and sanitation procedures.

Tips for healthy cruising

Learn how passengers can protect themselves .

More information

Gastrointestinal illness is a commonly used term for acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Cruise ships report cases that meet our case definition for AGE. We define a reportable case of AGE as

• Three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period or what is more than normal for that person OR
• Vomiting along with one of the following symptoms: diarrhea, muscle ache, headache, abdominal cramp, or fever.

Case totals

Cases reported are totals for the entire voyage. It does not mean all people are sick at the same time, such as when they arrive or leave a port or ship.

The Vessel Sanitation Program helps the cruise ship industry prevent and control the introduction and spread of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships.

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Hundreds sick with norovirus, say cruise passengers

The number of people taken ill on a cruise ship following an outbreak of norovirus was in the hundreds, passengers have told the BBC.

Port health officials were due to meet P&O Cruises vessel Ventura for an inspection after it docked in Southampton earlier.

P&O said new passengers would face delays in boarding on Saturday while the ship was deep-cleaned .

The cruise company has not confirmed the total number of cases but apologised to those affected .

Ventura docked in Southampton at about 05:00 BST, where just under 3,000 passengers disembarked after a two-week voyage around the Canary Islands.

Leaving the ship with her family, Hollie Taylor, from New Milton in Hampshire, described the £8,500 holiday as "absolutely horrendous".

"There were constantly areas blocked off because people had been vomiting all over the hallways," she told the BBC.

Ms Taylor said her sons had become ill a couple of days into the trip and were "violently sick" for about 24 hours.

She and her husband James said they believed up to 600 people on board had fallen ill.

"We didn't report it [their sons' sickness] because what's the point?" Ms Taylor added.

On Wednesday, P&O said 0.64% of people on board Ventura had symptoms of norovirus after sanitation measures had been put in place.

A spokeswoman for the company said at the time it showed "the efficacy of our extensive protocols" but would not provide a total number of cases reported since the start of the outbreak.

Enhanced sanitation protocols had been put in place on board following the outbreak, P&O has said.

Unwell passengers had also been asked to isolate for longer, according to Southampton Port Health Authority (SPHA).

Ventura is scheduled to leave Southampton again at 21:00 BST for a seven-night cruise to Spain and Portugal.

New passengers were being contacted in advance to make sure those with symptoms did not get on the ship, the SPHA said.

In addition, boarding has been delayed by four hours to allow for a deep clean of guest cabins, public areas and crew areas.

Commercial cleaners would sanitise the ship before new passengers were allowed on, P&O's spokeswoman said.

The company previously confirmed it would be using fogging, which involves spraying special disinfectant into a sealed room as a mist-type vapour.

Ventura would then be checked by a port health officer.

"Carnival UK [P&O Cruises' parent company] are cooperating fully with the investigation," SPHA added.

Alex Woolfenden, who was due to board the vessel on Saturday afternoon with his three-year-old son, wife and her elderly parents, said the situation had left him "stressed".

He said more than £8,000 had been spent on their trip, which was a belated honeymoon for the couple from North Wales.

Mr Woolfenden told the BBC he was having second thoughts about boarding and felt like he was "caught between a rock and a hard place".

"P&O are putting their profits before safety of guests, especially as we have two vulnerable groups," he said.

"Could you imagine having to isolate with a three-year-old in a cabin for the whole time?"

P&O previously said the health and wellbeing of its guests and crew was its "absolute priority".

Ventura would remain at a "heightened level of response" for its next voyage to manage the "elevated" number of cases, SPHA confirmed.

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More on this story

Cruise ship to get deep-clean after norovirus spread

Norovirus cruise to be met by port health officials

Cruise stomach bug 'has been a problem for weeks'

Cruise ship passengers isolating amid bug outbreak

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Cruise Ship Travel

CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance has been updated. The content of this page will be updated soon.

While cruising is a popular way to travel, there are some health concerns to be aware of. Find out more about health issues on cruises and steps you can take to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

If you are feeling sick before your voyage, do not travel and ask your cruise line about rescheduling or reimbursement options. If you feel sick during your voyage, report your symptoms to the ship’s medical center and follow their recommendations.

Common Health Concerns During Cruise Travel and what You Can Do to Prevent Illness

• Respiratory illnesses like influenza , COVID-19 , and the common cold. Get your annual flu shot and get up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines . Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. If you have a weakened immune system , talk with your healthcare provider about your cruise travel plans. Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer . When you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue to prevent spreading germs. Consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas.
• Norovirus. Symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, primarily caused by outbreaks of norovirus, have been reported. To prevent norovirus , wash your hands with soap and water before eating and after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or touching things that other people have touched, such as stair railings. Avoid touching your face. For more information, visit CDC’s  Vessel Sanitation Program  website.
• Seasickness. Cruise ship passengers may experience seasickness or motion sickness. If you know you get seasick or think you may be likely to get seasick, talk to your healthcare provider about medicine to reduce your symptoms. Some common medications, including some antidepressants, painkillers, and birth control pills, can make seasickness worse.
• Sunburns. Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher when traveling. Protecting yourself from the sun isn’t just for tropical beaches—you can get a sunburn even if it’s cloudy or cold.
• Bug bites. On your trip, use insect repellent and take other steps to avoid bug bites. Bugs, including mosquitoes and ticks, can spread diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and Lyme. Many ships visit ports where these diseases are a concern.

Before Your Trip

Check CDC’s destination pages for travel health information . Check CDC’s webpage for your destination to see what vaccines or medicines you may need and what diseases or health risks are a concern at your destination.

Make sure you are up to date with all of your routine vaccines . Routine vaccinations protect you from infectious diseases  that can spread quickly in groups of people. Outbreaks of chickenpox, influenza, and COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships.

Many diseases prevented by routine vaccination are not common in the United States but are still common in other countries. Crew members and fellow travelers often board a cruise ship from destinations where some diseases are more common than in the United States or where vaccination is not routine.

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist  that takes place at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing your health concerns, itinerary, and planned activities with your provider allows them to give more specific advice and recommendations.

Plan for the Unexpected

Prepare for any unexpected issues during your cruise ship travels with the following steps:

Prepare a  travel health kit  with items you may need, especially those items that may be difficult to find at your destination. Include your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in your travel health kit and take enough to last your entire trip, plus extra in case of travel delays. Depending on your destination you may also want to pack a mask ,  insect repellent , sunscreen (SPF15 or higher), aloe, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, water disinfection tablets, and your health insurance card.

Get travel insurance.  Find out if your health insurance covers medical care abroad. Travelers are usually responsible for paying hospital and other medical expenses out of pocket at most destinations. Make sure you have a plan to  get care overseas , in case you need it. Consider buying  additional insurance  that covers health care and emergency evacuation, especially if you will be traveling to remote areas.

If you need medical care abroad, see Getting Health Care During Travel .

After Travel

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare provider and tell them about your travel. Avoid contact with other people while you are sick.

More Information

• Cruise Ship Travel in CDC Yellow Book
• Information for Cruise Ship Travelers
• Maritime Guidance

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Dozens of united airlines passengers headed to houston fall ill after international cruise, “thirty minutes before we land, we get told that they’ve been exposed to an unknown virus.”.

Gage Goulding , News Reporter , Houston, TX

Michael Lemons , Photojournalist

Ahmed Humble , Digital Content Producer

HOUSTON – More than two dozen people on a United Airlines flight to Houston on Friday became ill while the plane was traveling from Canada.

RELATED: United Airlines says it has regained some privileges that were suspended after problem flights

United Airlines flight 1528 was flying from Vancouver, British Columbia to Houston. During the flight, 25 people became sick.

According to the Houston Fire Department , the sick passengers reported symptoms of nausea.

“About an hour and a half before we hit Houston, they ask for if you’ve been on this cruise ship, could you raise your hand,” James Snell recounts from his flight.

All of the ill passengers were previously on a cruise. A total of 75 passengers flying on the plane were on that cruise.

🤒 More than two dozen passengers aboard a @united flight to @iah on Friday became sick. @HoustonFire says the passengers just got done with an international cruise. @KPRC2 is also learning that the @CDCgov is also involved in the investigation. pic.twitter.com/y9Bdmx2Nbr — Gage Goulding - KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) June 1, 2024

Firefighters and paramedics met the passengers as they landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport following the five-hour flight from Vancouver, British Columbia.

“Then all of a sudden, the flight attendant, she put on a mask, and the guy next to me is like, ‘What do you think’s going on?’ And I’m like, ‘Bro, I don’t know. You know? I mean, COVID, we’re all going to die.’ You know what I mean,” said Snell.

Three people were “evacuated” from the airplane, but no one was taken to the hospital.

MORE STORIES INVOLVING UNITED AIRLINES

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the plane landed around 6:30 p.m.

“Then firetrucks and ambulances started pulling up,” Snell said. “They didn’t hold us very long, maybe 45 minutes-ish.”

Passengers aboard the airplane say that the pilot and flight attendants alerted them that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating the illness.

“This is where it got weird,” Snell said. “He [the pilot] got over the speaker, but he came out to us and he said, ‘Hey, in my 25 years of flying, I’ve never seen anything like this. We have been quarantined by the CDC. Nobody can exit the plane until the CDC lets us off.’”

After being let off the plane passengers were screened by paramedics from the Houston Fire Department.

“As soon as you got off, you got mobbed, wanting to know if you had any symptoms and did you want to be triaged,” Snell said. “But then they let us off and I thought, man, you’re letting us off in Houston airport. Like we’re going everywhere in the world. This is how it started the last time.”

The last time refers to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s what he and other passengers thought they could be dealing with.

“We’re all trapped in this tube, and we’ve all lived through Corona. And I was just like, ‘oh, come on. Not again,’” Snell said.

KPRC2 asked the FAA, CDC, Houston Fire Department and United Airlines for information about which cruise ship the passengers who got sick were on and for the illness, but none of the organizations would provide further information.

According to information from the CDC, there have been seven outbreaks of illness on cruise ships this year.

The most recent is a norovirus outbreak on the Celebrity Summit cruise ship.

Norovirus is commonly known as the “stomach bug” and can lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It’s a highly contagious virus, but is typically not a severe illness and passes in a few days, the CDC reports.

According to Celebrity Cruises’ website , the Celebrity Summit ship is currently sailing between Seward, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Vancouver is where the United Airlines flight full of sick passengers took off.

KPRC 2 asked Celebrity Cruises for more information about their outbreak and if it’s connected to the sick passengers that landed in Houston. We’re still waiting for an answer.

Meanwhile, United Airlines tells KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding that the plane is being pulled from rotation until it can be deep cleaned.

UNITED AIRLINES STATEMENT

“Several passengers who had been on the same cruise and did not feel well were on United Flight 1528 from Vancouver to Houston tonight. United Airlines is actively coordinating with health authorities to address the situation. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft will be removed from service and go through a deep cleaning before returning to service. Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”

CDC Statement

“CDC is aware of a flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, that arrived at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Friday, May 31.

Public health officers from CDC’s Houston Port Health Station worked with EMS to evaluate ill passengers on board. Most of the ill passengers reported mild GI symptoms. No passengers were noted to have a fever during the flight or upon public health assessment at landing. No passengers met CDC criteria for further public health follow-up. Passengers from the flight continued with their travel plans.”

Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

About the Authors

Gage goulding.

Gage Goulding is an award-winning TV news reporter and anchor. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he comes to Texas from Fort Myers, FL, where he covered some of the areas most important stories, including Hurricane Ian.

Ahmed Humble

Historian, educator, writer, expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer, essayist, film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar. Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue.

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5 Illnesses You Can Get on a Cruise Ship (Besides COVID)

Plus, tips on how to avoid getting sick while at sea and ports of call.

Rachel Nania and Nicole Gill Council,

Concerns over the spread of COVID-19 have loomed over the travel industry for the last three years, but with the public health emergency coming to an end and a robust menu of preventive tools and treatments available, many of those fears are fading.

A new  AARP survey  shows 81 percent of adults 50-plus who plan to travel in 2023 believe it’s safe to do so now, up from 77 percent in 2021. And while interest in cruising is down slightly among the 50-plus population this year compared to last, a recent AAA survey finds that, overall, the share of travelers considering a cruise vacation in 2023 is up.

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However, the return to the skies and seas does not mean COVID-19 is no longer a threat.

“Indoor densely populated places where we’re exchanging exhaled breath with one another is still going to be a concern for me,” says Wilbur Chen, M.D., adult infectious disease physician and director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Travel Medicine Practice.

That concern isn’t limited to COVID, either. Flu spreads in a similar way, Chen points out.

It’s important to note, though, that since the start of the pandemic, many cruise lines have invested in better air circulation systems with medical-grade HEPA filters , says travel expert Pamela Kwiatkowski, cofounder and chief insurance officer at Goose Insurance Services in Vancouver, British Columbia. “I think that’s the first step they’ve taken in terms of improving the air filtration system, which removes almost all of the airborne pathogens,” she says.

Still, plenty of bugs can lurk on busy boats. Read on to discover some common illnesses you can pick up on a cruise — and what you can do to help keep yourself healthy on your next getaway. 

1. Flu and other respiratory illnesses

Flu season spiked early this year in the U.S., along with another  respiratory illness  that can be particularly dangerous for older adults, respiratory syncytial virus, which is known as RSV . Cases of flu and RSV have declined from fall’s peak, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows, but the viruses that cause these two illnesses are still circulating in the U.S. and other parts of the globe.

“Influenza is complicated during cruise travel because, of course, people on a cruise ship — both the passengers and the crew — may come from different parts of the world, which means that the rates of influenza for your particular country may not necessarily be the same as in other places,” says Jose Lucar, M.D., an infectious disease physician and associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.

According to the CDC, flu season in the southern hemisphere, which includes Australia and parts of South America and Africa, typically runs April through September. In the tropics, flu flares up throughout the year.

Staying healthy:  If you haven’t rolled up your sleeve for the flu shot yet, make sure you get it at least two weeks before going on a cruise, Lucar says. The same applies to the latest  COVID booster . When it comes to RSV, there isn’t a vaccine yet, but the FDA could approve one soon.

A few other tips: If you’re at high risk for  flu complications , talk to your doctor about antiviral treatment and prevention before your trip, the CDC recommends. Don’t forget about high-quality face masks, which can help to tamp down the spread of respiratory illnesses. And be sure to make — and pack — a list of all the medications you take, in case you wind up needing medical care on board. “That just makes it easier for everyone, so that if there is an emergency, if you’re not able to talk really well, you can at least hand the sheet over and it’s done,” Chen says.

2. Norovirus

This is one of the most well-known bugs that can foil fun on a ship. Norovirus — marked by diarrhea , vomiting, nausea and stomach pain — is to blame for more than 90 percent of diarrheal disease outbreaks on cruises, according to the CDC. That said, norovirus outbreaks on ships account for only 1 percent of all such reported cases.

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“This infection is very contagious,” Lucar says. The virus is also a “hearty” one, Chen points out. It can survive for long periods of time on surfaces and is resistant to common disinfectants.

Close living quarters, shared bathrooms, populated pools, busy buffet lines and rapid turnover of passengers make it difficult to control the spread of the virus once it hits a ship. “It’s just really the perfect scenario for transmission of highly contagious GI [gastrointestinal] pathogens,” Lucar says.

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According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the risk each year of getting laboratory-confirmed norovirus during a ship outbreak is about 1 in 5,500. The association, which says it is the largest cruise industry trade association in the world, noted on its website that crew members use strict sanitation and cleaning practices created with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program. Cabins are cleaned once a day, and other common areas, such as elevators and pools, are cleaned multiple times a day.

In late February, more than 300 people aboard a Princess Cruises ship fell ill with diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC, though the agency didn’t cite the cause of the illness that sickened the 284 passengers and 34 crew. The  Ruby Princess  increased disinfection and cleaning procedures in the wake of the outbreak.

Other bugs that have popped up on boats include salmonella and E. coli. One to keep an eye on is shigella, which the CDC notes has been behind GI outbreaks on cruise ships. This bacterium causes an infection known as shigellosis, which can cause fever, stomach pain and diarrhea that can be bloody or prolonged.

Typically, the infection is treated with antibiotics, Chen says, but the CDC recently  issued a warning  that antibiotic-resistant strains are circulating in the U.S. Chen isn’t aware of any outbreaks of the resistant varieties on cruise ships, but it’s something to monitor.

Staying healthy:  To avoid getting a GI bug, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water before eating and after going to the bathroom and coming into contact with high-touch surfaces, like doorknobs and stair railings. Hand sanitizers don’t work well against norovirus, Lucar notes.

Travel expert Kwiatkowski also recommends  drinking plenty of water  to keep your body running at its best. However, she advises passengers stay away from the water at ports, particularly if a passenger is vulnerable to gastrointestinal illnesses.

“Handwashing, cleaning your stateroom, watching what you eat and how much you eat, and making sure that you stay hydrated will go a long way in preventing these illnesses, from you catching them even if they are there,” she says.

Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about any medications you should pack, such as loperamide (Imodium) to help treat diarrhea or dimenhydrinate (Dramamine, Gravol) for nausea. If your immune system is compromised, your doctor may want to prescribe something ahead of your trip.

Although less common than respiratory and GI illnesses, measles, along with chicken pox and other  vaccine-preventable diseases , can circulate on cruise ships.

Measles, a highly contagious virus that can linger in the air even hours after an infected person leaves the room, was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, thanks to a successful vaccine program. But cases still pop up in the States, and the virus is common in many countries around the world.

If an unvaccinated or under-vaccinated passenger or crew member contracts the virus and brings it on board, other vulnerable people can get sick, Chen explains. (A ship was quarantined off the coast of St. Lucia in 2019 when measles was reported on board.) The same goes for chicken pox (varicella), which is similarly caused by a highly contagious virus that can circulate among unvaccinated people.

Staying healthy:  To avoid these and other vaccine-preventable diseases, make sure you’re up to date on your routine vaccines before traveling. Two doses of the chicken pox vaccine are more than 90 percent effective at preventing the disease, and two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) are about 97 percent effective at preventing measles.

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4. Seasickness

Is the motion of the ocean getting to you? Seasickness, while not contagious or related to an infection, can make you feel downright miserable. The good news: Most people recover quickly from seasickness, formally known as motion sickness, and there are medications that can help.

Motion sickness — which can cause dizziness, nausea and vomiting whether you’re on a boat, in a car or on a roller coaster — occurs when the movement you see is different from what your inner ear senses. Interestingly, adults 50 and older are less susceptible than younger adults and children, the CDC notes.

Staying healthy:  If you’re prone to going a little green when you travel, talk to your doctor ahead of your trip about medications that can help with symptoms. Prescription and over-the-counter antihistamines — like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), for example — are most frequently used to treat motion sickness. 

However, antihistamines can interact with other medications and often cause drowsiness and decreased mental alertness, and the nonsedating ones appear to be less effective, the CDC says. Your doctor may also prescribe or recommend a patch that can help prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness.

Another tip: Have your physician review your current list of medications, since common pills — including some antidepressants and painkillers — can make seasickness worse, according to the CDC. 

A few other things that can help with seasickness:

• Try lying down on your stomach, shutting your eyes or looking off into the horizon.
• Avoid the upper levels of the boat.
• Stay hydrated and limit alcohol and caffeine consumption.
• Avoid smoking . Even short-term cessation reduces your susceptibility to motion sickness, the CDC says.
• Distract yourself with music, controlled breathing or aromatherapy (try mint or lavender). Sucking on a flavored lozenge (some experts recommend a hard ginger candy) may also help, the CDC says.
• While the CDC says the scientific data on acupressure for seasickness is lacking, it works for some. You can find wrist bands for motion sickness in many drugstores.

5. Burns and bites

A word of advice from Lucar and Chen: Don’t forget the SPF when packing for your cruise. A burn on vacation can ruin your fun in the sun  and  put you at higher risk for  skin cancer .

“Also, if you’re going to places that have a lot of insects and mosquitoes, make sure you wear your insect repellent so that you don’t get a bunch of bites, because we also are worried about malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika — those sorts of things — at ports of call,” Chen says.

Staying healthy:  Opt for a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, the CDC recommends, and be sure your bottle says “blocks UVA and UVB” or “broad spectrum” on the label.

When it comes to insect repellent, look for a spray that’s registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. Layering it with sunscreen? Put the repellent on second, over the sunscreen, the CDC advises.

To ease any health-related concerns you might have before booking a cruise, Kwiatkowski suggests using a travel agent who is a cruise line expert or contacting the cruise line to ask about their cleaning protocols and track record. “I know it sounds like a lot of work,” she says, “but travel is a big investment, and you really want to travel worry-free.”

Rachel Nania writes about health care and health policy for AARP. Previously she was a reporter and editor for WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C. A recipient of a Gracie Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, she also participated in a dementia fellowship with the National Press Foundation.

Nicole Gill Council is a writer and editor of travel and diversity, equity and inclusion content for aarp.org. Previously, she was a digital planning manager and a news editor at  USA Today  and Gannett News Service, and a copy editor at the  Los Angeles Times  and  Newsday.​

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Bill Of The Month

He fell ill on a cruise. before he boarded the rescue boat, they handed him the bill.

Bram Sable-Smith

On the last full day of a Bahamas excursion, Vincent Wasney had three epileptic seizures. While being evacuated, he received a bill for expenses incurred during the cruise. Kristen Norman for KFF Health News hide caption

On the last full day of a Bahamas excursion, Vincent Wasney had three epileptic seizures. While being evacuated, he received a bill for expenses incurred during the cruise.

Vincent Wasney and his fiancée, Sarah Eberlein, had never visited the ocean. They'd never even been on a plane. But when they bought their first home in Saginaw, Michigan, in 2018, their real estate agent gifted them tickets for a Royal Caribbean cruise.

After two years of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, they set sail in December 2022.

The couple chose a cruise destined for the Bahamas in part because it included a trip to CocoCay, a private island accessible to Royal Caribbean passengers that featured a water park, balloon rides, and an excursion swimming with pigs.

Bill of the Month is a crowdsourced investigation by KFF Health News and NPR that dissects and explains medical bills. Do you have an interesting medical bill you want to share with us? Tell us about it !

It was on that day on CocoCay when Wasney, 31, started feeling off, he said.

The next morning, as the couple made plans in their cabin for the last full day of the trip, Wasney made a pained noise. Eberlein saw him having a seizure in bed, with blood coming out of his mouth from biting his tongue. She opened their door to find help and happened upon another guest, who roused his wife, an emergency room physician.

Wasney was able to climb into a wheelchair brought by the ship's medical crew to take him down to the medical facility, where he was given anticonvulsants and fluids and monitored before being released.

Vincent had had seizures in the past, starting about ten years ago, but it had been a while since his last one. Imaging back then showed no tumors, and doctors concluded he was likely epileptic, he said. He took medicine initially, but after two years without another seizure, he said his doctors took him off the medicine to avoid liver damage.

Wasney had a second seizure on the ship a few hours later, back in his cabin. This time he stopped breathing, and Eberlein remembered his lips being so purple, they almost looked black. Again, she ran to find help but, in her haste, locked herself out. By the time the ship's medical team got into the cabin, Wasney was breathing again but had broken blood vessels along his chest and neck that he later said resembled tiger stripes.

Wasney was in the ship's medical center when he had a third seizure — a grand mal, which typically causes a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. By then, the ship was close enough to port that Wasney could be evacuated by rescue boat. He was put on a stretcher to be lowered by ropes off the side of the ship, with Eberlein climbing down a rope ladder to join him.

But before they disembarked, the bill came.

The patient: Vincent Wasney, 31, who was uninsured at the time.

Medical services: General and enhanced observation, a blood test, anticonvulsant medicine, and a fee for services performed outside the medical facility.

Service provider: Independence of the Seas Medical Center, the on-ship medical facility on the cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International .

Total bill: $2,500.22.

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What gives: As part of Royal Caribbean's guest terms , cruise passengers "agree to pay in full" all expenses incurred on board by the end of the cruise, including those related to medical care. In addition, Royal Caribbean does not accept "land-based" health insurance plans.

Wasney said he was surprised to learn that, along with other charges like wireless internet, Royal Caribbean required he pay his medical bills before exiting the ship — even though he was being evacuated urgently.

"Are we being held hostage at this point?" Eberlein remembered asking. "Because, obviously, if he's had three seizures in 10 hours, it's an issue."

Wasney said he has little memory of being on the ship after his first seizure — seizures often leave victims groggy and disoriented for a few hours afterward.

But he certainly remembers being shown a bill, the bulk of which was the $2,500.22 in medical charges, while waiting for the rescue boat.

Still groggy, Wasney recalled saying he couldn't afford that and a cruise employee responding: "How much can you pay?"

They drained their bank accounts, including money saved for their next house payment, and maxed out Wasney's credit card but were still about $1,000 short, he said.

Ultimately, they were allowed to leave the ship. He later learned his card was overdrafted to cover the shortfall, he said.

Royal Caribbean International did not respond to multiple inquiries from KFF Health News.

Once on land, in Florida, Wasney was taken by ambulance to the emergency room at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where he incurred thousands of dollars more in medical expenses.

He still isn't entirely sure what caused the seizures.

On the ship he was told it could have been extreme dehydration — and he said he does remember being extra thirsty on CocoCay. He also has mused whether trying escargot for the first time the night before could have played a role. Eberlein's mother is convinced the episode was connected to swimming with pigs, he said. And not to be discounted, Eberlein accidentally broke a pocket mirror three days before their trip.

Wasney, who works in a stone shop, was uninsured when they set sail. He said that one month before they embarked on their voyage, he finally felt he could afford the health plan offered through his employer and signed up, but the plan didn't start until January 2023, after their return.

They also lacked travel insurance. As inexperienced travelers, Wasney said, they thought it was for lost luggage and canceled trips, not unexpected medical expenses. And because the cruise was a gift, they were never prompted to buy coverage, which often happens when tickets are purchased.

When a quick telehealth visit yields multiple surprises beyond a big bill

The resolution: Wasney said the couple returned to Saginaw with essentially no money in their bank account, several thousand dollars of medical debt, and no idea how they would cover their mortgage payment. Because he was uninsured at the time of the cruise, Wasney did not try to collect reimbursement for the cruise bill from his new health plan when his coverage began weeks later.

The couple set up payment plans to cover the medical bills for Wasney's care after leaving the ship: one each with two doctors he saw at Broward Health, who billed separately from the hospital, and one with the ambulance company. He also made payments on a bill with Broward Health itself. Those plans do not charge interest.

But Broward Health said Wasney missed two payments to the hospital, and that bill was ultimately sent to collections.

In a statement, Broward Health spokesperson Nina Levine said Wasney's bill was reduced by 73% because he was uninsured.

"We do everything in our power to provide the best care with the least financial impact, but also cannot stress enough the importance of taking advantage of private and Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, as well as travel insurance, to lower risks associated with unplanned medical issues," she said.

The couple was able to make their house payment with $2,690 they raised through a GoFundMe campaign that Wasney set up. Wasney said a lot of that help came from family as well as friends he met playing disc golf, a sport he picked up during the pandemic.

"A bunch of people came through for us," Wasney said, still moved to tears by the generosity. "But there's still the hospital bill."

The takeaway: Billing practices differ by cruise line, but Joe Scott , chair of the cruise ship medicine section of the American College of Emergency Physicians, said medical charges are typically added to a cruise passenger's onboard account, which must be paid before leaving the ship. Individuals can then submit receipts to their insurers for possible reimbursement.

He recommended that those planning to take a cruise purchase travel insurance that specifically covers their trips. "This will facilitate reimbursement if they do incur charges and potentially cover a costly medical evacuation if needed," Scott said.

Royal Caribbean suggests that passengers who receive onboard care submit their paid bills to their health insurer for possible reimbursement. Many health plans do not cover medical services received on cruise ships, however. Medicare will sometimes cover medically necessary health care services on cruise ships, but not if the ship is more than six hours away from a U.S. port.

Travel insurance can be designed to address lots of out-of-town mishaps, like lost baggage or even transportation and lodging for a loved one to visit if a traveler is hospitalized.

Travel medical insurance, as well as plans that offer "emergency evacuation and repatriation," are two types that can specifically assist with medical emergencies. Such plans can be purchased individually. Credit cards may offer travel medical insurance among their benefits, as well.

But travel insurance plans come with limitations. For instance, they may not cover care associated with preexisting conditions or what the plans consider "risky" activities, such as rock climbing. Some plans also require that travelers file first with their primary health insurance before seeking reimbursement from travel insurance.

As with other insurance, be sure to read the fine print and understand how reimbursement works.

Wasney said that's what they plan to do before their next Royal Caribbean cruise. They'd like to go back to the Bahamas on basically the same trip, he said — there's a lot about CocoCay they didn't get to explore.

Emmarie Huetteman of KFF Health News edited the digital story, and Taunya English of KFF Health News edited the audio story. NPR's Will Stone edited the audio and digital story.

KFF Health News , formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

• medical bills
• broward health
• travel insurance
• cruise ship
• royal caribbean

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Dozens of united airlines passengers mysteriously fall ill on flight to texas after disembarking cruise ship.

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Dozens of travelers mysteriously fell ill on a United Airlines flight to Texas after disembarking a cruise ship.

The flight from Vancouver, British Columbia, arrived in Houston at Bush Airport around 6:20 p.m. Friday with roughly 30 passengers feeling ill, according to ABC 13.

A travel group of 75 people had been on the cruise before boarding the flight. Of those, about 30 passengers reported feeling sick and having flu-like symptoms and nausea.

It was not immediately clear with what cruise line the passengers had been traveling. United did not return The Post’s request for comment.

Houston Fire Department emergency medical services met the plane as it landed and evaluated three passengers, though none required hospital treatment.

There were 163 passengers and six crew members aboard the flight, according to Fox 26.

In a statement, United said it would deep clean the plane before returning it to service.

“Several passengers who had been on the same cruise and did not feel well were on United Flight 1528 from Vancouver to Houston tonight,” the airline said.

“United Airlines is actively coordinating with health authorities to address the situation. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft will be removed from service and go through a deep cleaning before returning to service.”

The airline added: “Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”

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Two dozen United Airlines passengers fell ill on flight, had been on cruise

Around two dozen passengers fell ill on a United Airlines flight from Vancouver, Canada to Houston, Texas on Friday.

Approximately 25 people traveling in a group of 75 had nausea, according to Capt. Sedrick Robinett of the Houston Fire Department. HFD evaluated three passengers upon the plane’s arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport but none were transported to the hospital, he said.

“Several passengers who had been on the same cruise and did not feel well were on United Flight 1528 from Vancouver to Houston Friday night,” United told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The airline did not answer a question about what cruise line or ship the flyers had been traveling on before their flight.

“United Airlines is actively coordinating with health authorities to address the situation,” the airline’s statement continued. “As a precautionary measure, the aircraft will be removed from service and go through a deep cleaning before returning to service. Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”

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The Houston Health Department referred a request for comment to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Public health officers from CDC’s Houston Port Health Station worked with EMS to evaluate ill passengers on board," a CDC spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "Most of the ill passengers reported mild GI symptoms. No passengers were noted to have a fever during the flight or upon public health assessment at landing. No passengers met CDC criteria for further public health follow-up. Passengers from the flight continued with their travel plans."

The news comes after dozens of passengers on a Condor flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt, Germany mysteriously became sick with nausea and vomiting last month.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].