Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on July 16, 2026
This week another foodborne outbreak was reported aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird cruise ship. A vessel associated with Lindblad Expeditions. The previous outbreak involved a norovirus germ last month. This, time they weren’t exactly sure the germ responsible. Though they don’t say why.
What happened aboard the Sea Bird last week and how can future cruisers protect themselves from the same fate?
Cruisers aboard the Sea Bird departed from Sitka, Baranof Island Alaska Hotels as usual on Friday, July 10, 2026. Expecting to see beautiful glacial sites.
At least that is what the brochures said.
For most, this was the case. Things went as planned at the stop at Baranof Island, Alaska on July 11. But somewhere between the Icy Straight Point, Hoonah and Inian Islands Alaska on July 12, enough people reported illnesses that prompts a notification to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Voyage Sanitation Program (VSP).
Before passengers reached Haines, Alaska on July 13 at least 18 of the 62 passengers were sick. Most reporting symptoms of vomiting and abdominal cramps. To put that into perspective, that is nearly a third of those on the voyage. No crew members reported illness.
No intervention was necessary and scheduled stops at Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska took place prior to returning passengers to Juneau, Alaska.
So, what made these people sick?
The “causative agent” on record for this outbreak remains listed as “unknown.” While most outbreaks on cruise ships do not indicate the food source that caused the illnesses, a germ responsible or “causative agent,” is usually declared.
There could be many reasons for this.
Only 26 crew members were on board this small pleasure cruise. Unlike some larger voyages, there may have been limited medical staff or facilities. The previous outbreak on this same vessel, however, did indicate norovirus as the causative agent, so it is possible they only test for that commonly experienced germ.
Another reason for the causative agent to be unknown may come back to the germ itself. Toxin-producing germs like Staphylococcus aureus or Bacillus aureus cause symptoms indicated in the outbreak report. These germs often come on quickly when the bacteria has already produced toxins in the food.
Rapid onset of vomiting eliminates most of the germ from the body. Which makes it a little more difficult to get a sample and accurately diagnose the illness.
According to the outbreak report, several mitigating efforts took place once an outbreak was discovered on board.
All typical responses to an outbreak onboard a cruise ship.
While this small cruise was likely a bit different from the huge ones that generally come to mind. Ones with thousands of people on board and hundreds of crew. This ship held less than 100 people (including crew).
However, this is a good opportunity to discuss how to cruise safely to help prevent your own outbreak experience if you plan to cruise anytime in the future.
This comes up in just about everything I write on our Make Food Safe Blog. That is because it is probably the simplest, most important thing you can do to protect yourself!
Your hands touch everything. Elevator buttons, door handles, chair backs, menus. Everything! When you eat or touch your mouth, those germs you picked up from all of those places can make their way inside you. Where they can grow comfy and reproduce like crazy. Making you sick!
Wash your hands before you eat or prepare food for others. Wash your hands after you use the bathroom. Even after you are helping someone in the bathroom. Wash your hands after you change a diaper. While alcohol-based hand sanitizers can help in a pinch, they are not effective on all germs. So, please wash your hands as soon as possible with soap and running water.
Buffets are another way that foodborne germs spread on a cruise ship. Sometimes from food sitting too long on hot plates or improper temperature control. Other times from sick guests handling common serving utensils, touching plates and eating utensils, and other common contact surfaces.
If possible, dine at a restaurant-style option while cruising. Your risks are reduced to what you would typically encounter at a restaurant back home.
You should still wash your hands.
When in a confined space, it is important to report illnesses. You are obligated to report your own. But you should also report if you witness someone getting sick.
The area will need to be cleaned and sanitized quickly and the sick individual may need help. Report problems to the medical staff or the nearest employee to start this process as quickly as possible.
If you were significantly impacted by your gastrointestinal illness, it is a good idea to get advice from a foodborne illness lawyer. An experienced foodborne illness lawyer can answer your questions. Direct you to helpful resources. Represent you as needed. Most importantly, recover from the financial burden foodborne illness causes.
If you have been impacted by this gastrointestinal outbreak on the National Geographic Sea Bird, or another cruise ship outbreak and want to file a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a foodborne illness lawyer that can help!
Foodborne illness is inconvenient, disruptive to your personal and professional life, and in some cases serious or life-threatening. Most of the time foodborne illness is completely preventable. Lapses in food safety or sanitation protocols result in passengers becoming sick.
Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)