A cruise aboard the Coral Princess took a turbulent turn when dozens of passengers and crew members fell ill with norovirus, leaving many questioning if the real thrill was at sea or in the restroom.

As the Coral Princess sailed a month-long route from Singapore to Long Beach, California, a staggering 70 people—55 passengers and 15 crew members—reported battling the highly contagious norovirus, raising eyebrows and stomachs alike. Though the ship managed to dock on schedule despite the gastrointestinal upheaval, it now faces the unique challenge of balancing luxury cruising with spring-cleaning intensity, as the CDC monitors this, the ship's eighth recorded norovirus outbreak in 2024.

The Coral Princess, a 965-foot floating palace operated by Princess Cruises, first encountered trouble on November 9, when the first signs of illness struck a passenger less prepared than the cruise staff for a week of excessive hand sanitizer and ginger ale. Over the next few days, as waves rocked the ship, more passengers and crew members fell ill, prompting some to wonder if they were on a cruise or a gastrointestinal gauntlet. The ship's captain, perhaps fearing mutiny or a riot of buffet-goers turned bathroom-lurkers, opted to keep the ship on its schedule, docking in California as planned on November 17.

Norovirus, notorious for its ability to whip through large groups with the grace of an uninvited wedding guest, is responsible for symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting, neither of which is typically included in the cruise brochure. According to the CDC, this outbreak was particularly impressive by its adherence to cruise ship convention, being the eighth norovirus incident they had on record for the year thus far. This wasn’t merely a misadventure; it was a social media influencer's nightmare.

Despite the ruckus, Coral Princess passengers could rejoice that their travel plans remained relatively unscathed—no postponed port stays or dock shuffleboarding contests. The ship continued to Fort Lauderdale just a day after disembarking in California, clearly unfazed by norovirus's unwelcome incursion. If nothing else, those with particularly adventurous palates were able to sample some of the menu items under less-than-ideal circumstances, perhaps resulting in new dining trend ideas that nobody in their right mind would try to replicate.

In response to the outbreak, the ship's crew launched into overdrive, ramping up cleaning and disinfection protocols as if the ship were about to host the hygienic Olympics. Gone were the days of leisurely sipping cocktails poolside. Now, there were more sanitizer stations than bars aboard, like a fever dream of cleanliness juxtaposed with vacation indulgence.

The CDC is keeping a keen electronic eye on this situation, ensuring proper reporting protocols are followed. According to their guidelines, with more than 3% of guests and crew exhibiting symptoms, the Coral Princess fit the criteria for CDC scrutiny. If for nothing else, this incident might serve to dissuade potential future passengers, who we can only assume are contemplating a trip opposite to their mid-winter regrets. Travelers now face an unprecedented dilemma: to cruise or not to cruise? That is the question.

For those looking forward to the trendiest party aboard a floating hotel, it now seems crystal clear that they should pack a good supply of Imodium and a second query: 'How does one enjoy nachos when the aroma of disinfectant lingers in the air?' What remains an indisputable fact is that dozens of people on the cruise fell ill with norovirus, including 55 passengers and 15 crew members. The first illness was reported on Nov. 9, and while there were no delays to the ship's arrival in California on Nov. 17, the outbreak had a significant impact on those aboard.