Ruby Princess Cruise Hit by 2nd Consecutive Gastroenteritis Outbreak, Docks in Alaska
The Ruby Princess cruise ship has reported its second consecutive gastrointestinal illness outbreak during an Alaska voyage. Six crew members and one passenger were isolated after developing symptoms, days after 125 people fell ill on the vessel's previous trip. Princess Cruises has intensified sanitation measures while the ship continues its scheduled itinerary.
The Ruby Princess cruise ship has reported its second consecutive outbreak of gastrointestinal illness after several passengers and crew members fell sick during its latest Alaska voyage. Despite the new cases, the vessel docked in Haines, Alaska, on Monday, July 6, while health measures remained in place.
According to Princess Cruises, six crew members and one passenger were placed in isolation after developing symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. The latest cases come only days after the same ship experienced a significantly larger illness outbreak on its previous cruise, prompting enhanced sanitation measures before its current voyage.
New Cases Reported After Deep Cleaning
The Ruby Princess departed San Francisco on July 2 after undergoing an extensive deep cleaning following the earlier outbreak.
Princess Cruises said it implemented additional health protocols, including isolating affected passengers and crew, collecting stool samples for testing, increasing disinfection procedures and coordinating with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program.
The cruise line had previously stated that illness levels had declined before the ship began its latest sailing.
Previous Voyage Saw More Than 100 Cases
The latest outbreak follows a larger gastrointestinal illness outbreak during the ship's previous cruise from San Francisco to Alaska. According to the CDC, 125 of the 4,176 people onboard became ill during that voyage. Around 3.4% of passengers and 2% of crew members reported symptoms, primarily vomiting and diarrhea.
The exact cause of the latest illnesses has not yet been officially confirmed. However, the previous outbreak was linked to norovirus, the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea and foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States.
Cruise Continues Alaska Itinerary
Despite the new cases, the Ruby Princess continued its scheduled Alaska itinerary after arriving in Haines. The ship is expected to visit Tracy Arm, Ketchikan and Prince Rupert in British Columbia before returning to San Francisco. Monday's stop also marked the third time this year that a cruise ship with an active gastrointestinal illness outbreak has docked in Haines.
Norovirus Remains Common on Cruise Ships
According to the CDC, norovirus remains the most common cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships.
The virus accounted for 17 of the 23 cruise ship outbreaks reported to the agency last year. Symptoms typically include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea, and the virus spreads easily in crowded environments such as cruise ships. The Ruby Princess has the capacity to carry about 3,080 passengers and 1,200 crew members across its 19 decks.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 07, 2026 12:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
