Almost 100 individuals experienced illness during a gastrointestinal outbreak on a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship.

Of the 2,164 passengers onboard the Radiance of the Seas, 89 reported symptoms, along with two crew members, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The primary symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea.

Health officials noted that the exact cause of the illness remains unidentified.

The ship departed on a week-long Caribbean journey from Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, as per CruiseMapper. In response to the situation, Royal Caribbean has intensified cleaning and disinfection efforts and has isolated those who are unwell, as reported by the CDC.

“Additional precautions have been put in place to ensure the safety and comfort of all our guests and crew,” a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group shared with YSL News via email.

This incident marks the sixth outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships that has met the CDC’s criteria for public notification this year, following 18 similar outbreaks in 2024, most of which were linked to norovirus.

While such illnesses are often associated with cruise ships, it is important to note that cruises account for only 1% of all reported outbreaks.

Dr. Dean Winslow, a medicine and pediatrics professor at Stanford Medicine, explained to YSL News last month that these outbreaks commonly occur in communal environments, especially where food and drinks are served. Such settings include cruises, universities, nursing homes, and even hospitals, he noted.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter based in Nashville.