Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Norovirus,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on July 2, 2026
Passengers on the Ruby Princess, a Princess Cruises vessel, have begun falling sick with norovirus. A common, but very inconvenient, foodborne illness on cruise ships.
Fortunately, the majority of those sickened in this norovirus outbreak became ill towards the end of the voyage.
What is norovirus and how did people get sick? How do you know if you have norovirus? What should you do if you get sick on a cruise and what you should do once you return home?
Here’s what we know so far about the norovirus outbreak on the Ruby Princess!
Passengers aboard the Princess Cruises Ruby Princess with beautiful Alaskan destinations in mind. The vessel departed “the city by the bay” on June 12, 2026 on an itinerary including stops in Revillagigedo Island, Wrangell Island, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Valdez, Seward, Baranof Island, and the Icy Strait Point before the threshold for reporting illnesses were met.
The exact date of initial cases in this norovirus outbreak are not available.
On June 28, 2026, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Voyage Sanitation Program (VSP) was notified of an outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess.
The ship only had one more stop at Kaien Island Canada before returning to California.
In all, 102 passengers and 23 crew members reported illnesses. Prominent symptoms included diarrhea and vomiting. The “causative agent” was named norovirus.
Norovirus is a highly contagious germ commonly spread through what experts politely refer to as fecal-oral route.
What does that mean?
The germ is transmitted from fecal matter. It is often spread when someone who is sick doesn’t properly wash their hands after using the restroom and transfers those bacteria to other surfaces (or in the case of food service, an unsuspecting patron’s food).
It doesn’t take much to make people sick. Even trace amounts that cannot be detected by sight, smell, or (thankfully) taste.
As few as 10 viral particles can make someone sick and continue spreading the illness.
It is unclear how people became sick with norovirus on the Ruby Princess. However, there are some common ways transmission occurs.
Most people associate buffets with cruises. Pizza bar at midnight? Ice cream at 10 AM? You can snack til your heart’s (and stomach’s) content. Buffet culture is a key part of the cruise experience. But it is also a major risk factor for spreading illnesses like norovirus.
Countless people touching serving handles, tray holders, and surfaces. All it takes is one sick person who doesn’t properly wash their hands to infect hundreds of people.
While “sit-down” meals in cruise ship restaurants are usually a safer option, they are not fool proof. A sick food worker can also infect hundreds of people they serve on their ship. Poor handwashing and bare hand food contact can result in foodborne illness like norovirus on the Ruby Princess.
Another place that norovirus can spread on a cruise ship is in pools and hot tubs. Chlorinated and treated water should kill most germs, but many factors impact the effectiveness of those treatments.
People who are sick and have not wiped properly or children wearing diapers in shared recreational water can spread norovirus to other guests.
Other common surfaces can become contaminated with norovirus germs. Door handles, elevator buttons, hand rails. Anything that you touch, someone else could have also touched. With norovirus germs in tow and deposited on that very spot.
This is why hand washing prior to eating or preparing food is so important!
Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness. Only specialized laboratory tests can confirm the presence of norovirus in the human body. However, there are some key symptoms associated with the germ.
Common symptoms of norovirus infection include:
There is no medical treatment protocol for norovirus. Antibiotics are not effective against this type of infection, so your best course of action is to hydrate and rest until symptoms subside. Seek medical attention if symptoms become severe or you become dehydrated.
If you become sick on a cruise ship like those sickened in the Ruby Princess norovirus outbreak, there are a few things you can do to improve your situation.
If you become sick, it is important to take care of yourself. It is tempting to power through and enjoy as much as your vacation as possible. Especially on a cruise, where there is something to do at just any time of the day.
Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Make sure you are getting rest to rebuild your immune system. Take any medications or vitamins you normally take.
Take care of your body so that it will take care of you.
If you become sick, notify the ship’s medical center right away. Follow their recommendations for your safety and the safety of others.
If you see (or hear) someone get sick (for example, vomiting or diarrhea), leave the area immediately and notify cruise staff if they are not already aware of the situation.
If you are still sick when you return home, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
You may still be contagious. You can still spread norovirus for a few days after symptoms begin to resolve.
If possible, do not prepare food for others. Use a separate bathroom or carefully sanitize it. Wash your hands after you use the restroom, and frequently. If you work in food service, do not return to work until you are symptom free for 48 hours (or whatever your local health authority requires).
If you have been impacted by this outbreak of norovirus on the Ruby Princess, or another cruise ship outbreak, and want to file a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a norovirus 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 consumers 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)