GI Illness / Norovirus Outbreak Reported on Celebrity Eclipse – December 20–28, 2025

Introduction
A gastrointestinal illness outbreak was reported aboard Celebrity Eclipse during a late-December Caribbean cruise, with dozens of passengers and several crew members experiencing symptoms. The incident was formally reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the final day of the voyage.

Details of the Outbreak

Case Numbers:

• 95 of 3,042 passengers (≈3.1%) reported gastrointestinal symptoms.
• 9 crew members were also reported as affected.

Symptoms Reported:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps

Voyage and Itinerary:

• The 8-day round-trip cruise sailed from Fort Lauderdale between December 20 and December 28, 2025.
• Ports of call included:
  • St. John’s, Antigua
  • Philipsburg, St. Maarten
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Puerto Plata (Amber Cove), Dominican Republic

Response Measures:

• Celebrity Cruises implemented enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols across the ship.
• Affected passengers and crew were isolated to limit further transmission.
• Stool samples were collected from symptomatic individuals for laboratory analysis.
• The ship coordinated closely with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) on reporting and sanitation procedures.

Cause and CDC Context:

• At the time of reporting, the specific causative agent had not been confirmed.
• Norovirus is the most common cause of cruise-related GI outbreaks and was responsible for the majority of such cases in 2025.
• The CDC recorded 22 cruise ship GI outbreaks in 2025, most attributed to norovirus.

Broader Context:

• The Eclipse incident followed another high-profile outbreak aboard AIDAdiva during its 133-day world cruise.
• Health experts note that norovirus spreads easily in enclosed environments but typically resolves within 1–3 days with supportive care.