Embarkation Delayed for Princess Ship Following Gastro Outbreak
Here we go again! On May 18, 2025, the 3,080 passenger Crown Princess experienced a delayed embarkation due to a suspected norovirus outbreak.
Details on how many guests were affected by the illness are still unknown, but it was enough to warrant a delay to allow for a deep cleaning of the ship before its next cruise.
A letter sent by Princess Cruises to booked passengers stated, “Please be advised there will be a slight delay in the embarkation process for your upcoming Crown Princess voyage departing Brisbane on Tuesday, 18 May.”
“During the previous voyage, cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported. While most guests were unaffected, we have implemented a thorough disinfection program in coordination with international health authorities,” the letter continued, adding, “As an extra precaution, the ship will undergo additional disinfection on 18 May.”
Also included in the letter were the updated embarkation times — which typically begin between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Instead, check-in was set to begin at 1:30 p.m. and conclude at 4 p.m., with staterooms being ready later in the afternoon. The cruise line seriously urged guests to not show up early due to the limited seating at the cruise terminal.
Beyond that, guests who were with Princess hotels or transfers were provided with new pick up times either at the airport or at the hotel.
Along with the embarkation delay, passengers on the cruise during the outbreak noticed that onboard activities became more limited, as well as self-service being stopped at The Horizon, which is a buffet-style dining venue.
One guest who was on the ship at the time of the outbreak shared their experience, saying, “We are on crown princess now and because of norovirus on board we have not been able to do any sports activities for some time now, or serve ourselves in the horizon, but the staff are doing an amazing job in keeping up with cleaning.”
Other passengers chimed in with their experiences, with some saying that there was also a minor respiratory virus going around at the same time.
“Princess only does so much to disinfect the ship which they do and then it’s up to people to wash hands and use the sanitiser. Likewise wearing [a mask]. Despite regular instructions to do so, the number of infected people walking around without is so frustrating,” one guest shared.
“We are on this cruise and it’s not as bad as some are making it out to be, we’ve had to be served in the buffet – big deal. Prefer it this way anyway. We missed out on a function for ‘Elite’ passengers, that’s ok too,” added another.
While Princess Cruises has not directly confirmed that the gastrointestinal illness was norovirus, it is more than likely the culprit.
Currently, Crown Princess is on a 15-night round-trip sailing out of Sydney, Australia. The itinerary includes stops in Mystery Island in Vanuatu, Noumea in New Caledonia, Suva and Dravuni Island in Fiji, as well as Bay of Islands and Auckland in New Zealand.
The Newest Repeat Offender
This is not the 113,561-gross ton Crown Princess‘ first time dealing with an outbreak.
In November of 2024, there was a confirmed norovirus outbreak on Crown Princess, during which time it was also in Australia.
Passengers were encouraged to disembark while the ship stopped in Darwin to allow the crew to conduct a deep cleaning onboard.
In this case, the sanitization took place mid-voyage and lasted for about two hours. Even if guests stayed onboard, they were still required to vacate their staterooms for cleaning (unless they had been placed in isolation).
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This most recent outbreak marks the second time this ship has had one in just six months, but Crown Princess was actually not the only vessel that underwent a deep cleaning on May 18, 2025.
The 3,780-guest Costa Favolosa also experienced a suspected norovirus outbreak, forcing passengers to disembark and vacate their cabins while the ship was stopped in Edinburgh, Scotland.
In addition to the cruise line’s effort, guests can also help protect themselves from illness by washing their hands frequently or using hand sanitizer, avoiding crowds, and steering clear of other passengers who appear ill.
Princess Cruises’ ships all have 24-hour medical services onboard if you are feeling ill, and treatment is usually covered under the Princess Vacation Protection package.
Embarkation Delayed for Princess Ship Following Gastro Outbreak