Royal Caribbean has notified guests booked on its next voyage about a health advisory regarding Legionnaires’ disease.
The company informed guests via letter that a recent passenger was diagnosed after cruising aboard the Symphony of the Seas.
The guest in question was diagnosed some time after returning from the cruise, and it hasn’t been determined how and where the person contracted it.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified the cruise line of the case.
Unclear If Guests Contracted Legionnaires’ Disease on The Ship
“While the CDC are unsure where the guest was exposed, an individual who recently sailed on Symphony of the Seas was later diagnosed with Legionella,” a letter addressed to guests booked to travel on the April 30 cruise said. “As a precautionary measure, we implemented heightened sanitation protocols and followed all CDC guidance.”
This nine-night Eastern Caribbean voyage departs from Cape Liberty, NJ. The cruise line pointed out that it is not a contagion that passes from person to person.
“It is contracted by inhaling water droplets from a source containing the Legionella bacteria, which can be found in any environment containing water, such as municipal water systems, fountains, and whirlpools.”
The letter was also sent to passengers who sailed on the ship recently on several other cruises in March and April.
Most healthy adults who contract Legionnaires’ disease do not become sick, but it can significantly affect the elderly and those with certain preexisting medical issues.
Common symptoms of Legionnaire’s disease include shortness of breath, fever, headaches and muscular pains. “If you experience these symptoms and have concerns, please contact your medical provider,” the letter added.
In January 2025, Royal Caribbean issued a similar health advisory for passengers on the Symphony of the Seas after two guests were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease several days after their cruise.
