Princess Cruises Ship Denied to Dock Due to Sickness Onboard
For the second time this week, a Princess Cruises ship is experiencing an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness.
The 3,660-passenger Enchanted Princess is currently doing a segmented round-trip cruise out of Fort Lauderdale. It initially departed on May 10, 2025, with the second segment beginning on May 17.
On May 22, the ship was set to stop at the final port on both segments’ itinerary, which was supposed to be Grand Turk Island in Turks and Caicos.
Unfortunately, just about 30 minutes shy of docking, the captain made an announcement that the vessel had been denied due to the number of passengers who were ill.
While the exact illness has not been confirmed, a gastrointestinal illness (likely norovirus) has been impacting guests on the ship throughout the week.
As soon as cases began being reported, the crew began taking extra precautions to keep passengers safe by doing things such as not allowing for self-service while at the buffet.
Passengers currently on the ship took to social media to share their experiences, with some being upset and others being more understanding.
Read Also: 10 Worst Cruise Fails You Can Prepare For
“Our last port of call (Grand Turk) was canceled today due to some instances of a gastro virus onboard. Our captain tried his best to negotiate with the port authority, but docking was refused,” one person posted, going on to thank the captain for his efforts.
“Thank you non-hand washers which I STILL see. Grand Turk was the only reason I booked this cruise. I’m selling my Carnival stock. Buh bye,” posted another who was furious about the situation.
Other guests were quick to defend Princess Cruises, saying that outbreaks of illness can affect any cruise line at any time — and that if you really wanted to go to a specific destination, do not go on a cruise.
Port cancellations can happen for a number of reasons, but it is most frequently weather and not due to sick passengers.
That being said, in early 2024, Norwegian Dawn had its disembarkation delayed by two days when it arrived in Mauritius due to a suspected outbreak of norovirus, so this kind of situation is not unheard of.
Princess Cruises’ Passage Contract clearly states, “Except as otherwise provided, Carrier may, for any reason, without prior notice, cancel the cruise; deviate from the scheduled ports of call, route and timetable; call or omit to call at any port or place or cancel or modify any activity on or off the vessel.”
Next Embarkation Delayed Slightly
As a result of the outbreak, Enchanted Princess will be getting deep-cleaned before passengers embark on it again.
In an email to the guests on the May 24 sailing, Princess said, “During the previous voyage, a small number of guests reported gastrointestinal illness. As an extra precaution, the ship will undergo additional disinfection in Fort Lauderdale.”
The letter also mentioned that while most passengers remain unaffected, in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the cruise line proactively implemented a thorough disinfection program.
The new check-in window will begin at 12 p.m., and staterooms will be available later in the afternoon. The cruise line urged guests not to arrive early due to limited space available at the cruise terminal.
Also, those passengers with Princess hotels or transfers would be notified of their new pick-up time upon their arrival at the hotel or airport.
At the very least, Princess Cruises made sure to refund all guests the port fees for Grand Turk, which was a small bit of justice for some who were upset.
The gastrointestinal illness outbreak on Enchanted Princess is the third outbreak this week, as Crown Princess and Costa Favolosa also experienced outbreaks.
Princess Cruises Ship Denied to Dock Due to Sickness Onboard