Investigation Update on the Mariner of the Seas

Investigation Update - January 19, 2005

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line reported an increased number of cases of gastrointestinal (GI) illness on the cruise ship, Mariner of the Seas, for the voyage completed on January 23, 2005, (sailing dates: 01/16-01/23/2005) in Port Canaveral, FL.

On January 19, 2005, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line contacted CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) staff to report that an elevated number of Mariner of the Seas passengers and crew members were experiencing GI illness. On January 19, the ship’s medical staff reported that 132 of 3465 (3.81%) passengers and 5 of 1190 (0.42%) crew members were ill. Predominant symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea. The final illness count for this cruise was 276 passengers ill (7.9%) and 27 crew (2.2%).

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; by the following voyage the number of reported cases returned to expected levels.