What cruise line has Legionnaires disease?

Legionella previously found on American Cruise Lines vessels The agency found evidence of Legionella in the potable water systems of its American Star and American Heritage vessels following periodic inspections between December 2021 and and August 2022.



As of early 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has been in the headlines following an investigation into two cases of Legionnaires' disease among passengers on the Norwegian Encore in late 2025. Legionnaires' is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria, which thrives in warm water systems like hot tubs, cooling towers, and complex plumbing found on large ships. NCL has been working closely with the CDC to monitor and disinfect the ship's water systems. Historically, other lines like Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises have also dealt with sporadic cases over the years. In 2026, the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program has increased oversight of private balcony hot tubs, which were identified in a 2024 report as a higher-risk source for the bacteria because they are not subject to the same rigorous, frequent chemical testing as public pools. Cruise lines now implement "hyper-chlorination" protocols and frequent filter changes to mitigate this risk, but it remains a persistent challenge in the maritime industry.

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2023 American Splendor Legionnaires' Disease Hotel General Manager Jay Hasan notified American Splendor passengers of water test results that were positive for Legionella on September 18, 2023, the second-to-last day of a week-long cruise, according to the USA Today report.

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In 2023, a decade-high number of cruise ships have reported an unwelcome passenger on board: norovirus. Outbreaks of the stomach bug have surged on cruise ships this year, reaching the highest levels seen in 10 years.

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Respiratory Illnesses. Respiratory illnesses are the most common medical complaint on cruise ships.

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These organisms live within aerosolized water, and the infection spreads through inhaling or aspirating the contaminated water. In a cruise ship setting, this is particularly dangerous as they rely on potable water and boast multiple spa areas with hot tubs that create breeding grounds for Legionella.

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Or maybe it's norovirus, a contagious virus that often keeps you at the toilet for several days. Some people know it as the “cruise ship virus” because it's often the cause of over 90% of diarrhea outbreaks on cruise ships, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Are cruise ships safe? Let's cut right to the chase: Yes, cruise ships are generally safe as long as you use common sense and remember that vessels are not impervious to accidents, illness or people who just don't know how to behave.

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We are reaching out to you today to inform you that it has come to our attention that two guests who sailed aboard Norwegian Prima on her 19, 2022 voyage were diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease following their travels.”

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13 November 2018Crew / Passenger Deaths (murder) November 13, 2018, while the ship was en-route from Curacao to Aruba, a 52-year-old female passenger (US citizen) fell overboard (from Lido Deck 16), struck a lifeboat (unit number 2) and was found dead on Promenade Deck 7.

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The tiniest cruise ship in the world is the Celebrity Xploration offered by Celebrity Cruises. The ship has a guest capacity of 16 and sails around the Galapagos Islands.

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“The virus is often associated with cruise travel simply because health officials are required to track illnesses on ships,” Shah said. “The CDC estimates only about 1% of annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships.

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Top 3 Tips on How to Avoid Norovirus on a Cruise Ship
  1. Wash Your Hands Frequently. The most important thing that you can do to avoid Norovirus on a cruise ship is to wash and sanitize your hands as frequently as possible! ...
  2. Make Sure Food is Protected. ...
  3. Keep Your Immune System Strong.


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“When a lot of people share any common space, like a cruise ship, the risk of an outbreak goes up,” Labus told Verywell. “When an outbreak does occur on a cruise ship, the high-density environment means a lot of people can get sick in a very short period of time.”

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