Investigation Update on the Enchantment of the Seas

Investigation Update - January 07, 2005

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line reported an increased number of cases of gastrointestinal (GI) illness on the cruise ship, Enchantment of the Seas, for the voyage completed on January 8, 2005, (sailing dates: 01/03 -01/08/2005) in Port Everglades, FL.

On January 07, 2005, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line contacted CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) staff to report that an elevated number of Enchantment of the Seas passengers and crew members were experiencing GI illness. On January 8, the ship’s medical staff reported that 103 of 2136 (4.82%) passengers and 8 of 756 (1.06%) crew members were ill. Predominant symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea.

The ship's staff implemented additional cleaning and disinfection procedures. Stool specimens were collected and tested positive for norovirus. Medical staff continued to monitor gastrointestinal illness cases; the number of ill people returned to expected levels on the following voyage.