Celebrity Eclipse hit by gastrointestinal outbreak affecting more than 100 passengers and crew

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that more than 100 people became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms during a holiday cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse in late December.

According to the CDC’s vessel sanitation programme (VSP), 95 of the ship’s 3,042 passengers (3.1%) and nine crew members (0.7%) reported vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps during the eight-day Caribbean voyage that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 20 December and ended on 28 December 2025.

The outbreak was logged by the CDC on 30 December, but the causative agent remains unknown as samples were not available for testing once the voyage concluded. Norovirus is often implicated in cruise ship gastrointestinal outbreaks, and in 2025 it accounted for the majority of such events, though this particular case has not been confirmed as such.

In response, Celebrity Cruises isolated symptomatic guests and crew, increased disinfection and consulted with the VSP on sanitation measures. This incident is the 22nd gastrointestinal illness outbreak reported in 2025, underscoring ongoing health challenges in close-quarters travel.

The ITIJ team recently investigated how cruise lines and assistance companies might provide medication to patients who fall ill while at sea.