Two Guests Sue Royal Caribbean Following Outbreak on Alaska Sailing
While cruise lines are careful to avoid the spread of illness onboard, outbreaks are sometimes inevitable, as thousands of people from around the world interact during every sailing.
However, two Canadian passengers think that Royal Caribbean could have done more to prevent and mitigate the spread during a Salmonella outbreak in September of 2024. Both women are now suing the cruise line for negligence and breach of duties.
The voyage in question was the final Alaska cruise of the season onboard Radiance of the Seas, in which 180 passengers and three crew members reported gastrointestinal symptoms that were later identified as Salmonella.
The 2,112-guest ship embarked from Vancouver, Canada, on September 20, 2024, for the tumultuous week-long voyage.
The two lawsuits, which were filed by Tierny Patterson and Nicole Singh with the British Columbia Supreme Court in March of 2025, seek restitution for financial damages and compensation for pain and suffering.
In her claim, Patterson alleges that she became ill after eating several meals in the “dining hall.” It’s unclear if she is referring to the main dining rooms or buffet.
Her symptoms included diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration, fever, and more, but it wasn’t until she disembarked in Vancouver that she received a diagnosis from a doctor on land.
Singh reported similar symptoms and alleges that medical staff forced her to isolate in her cruise cabin because “she was viewed to be a biohazard.”
While this was likely upsetting, isolation is actually a common tactic to prevent the spread of potentially contagious illnesses onboard and to protect the other guests and crew members.
Isolated guests also wouldn’t be left to their own devices. Instead, they would be brought meals and medications as needed, and their condition would be monitored.
Singh, however, asserts that the medical staff onboard were not properly trained or equipped to provide proper care for the sick guests.
Both lawsuits also state that the onboard staff never suggested that Singh or Patterson should be removed from the ship to receive more urgent treatment.
Royal Caribbean has not issued a statement regarding the lawsuits and these allegations have not been proved in a court of law. As of the time of publication, the lawsuits are currently under review by the B.C. Court.
Royal Caribbean Took the Correct Steps
While these women understandably had a nightmare experience on what should have been a dream vacation, Royal Caribbean did take appropriate steps to mitigate the spread of illness onboard.
As is standard, the crew of Radiance of the Seas was required to report any outbreaks impacting 3% or more of the people onboard to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program – which remains operational despite recent federal layoffs.
In this case, the Radiance-class vessel had 8.29% of the population onboard become ill after exposure to the bacteria and did report the outbreak timely. Experts from the CDC then monitored the response of the approximately 858 crew members onboard.
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First, passengers were encouraged to practice frequent and thorough handwashing practices, with increased sanitation and disinfection of high-touch surfaces implemented in common spaces.
Timely announcements were also made to alert passengers to the outbreak and encourage guests to report any symptoms they might experience to the medical center. Stool samples were then collected to confirm the causative agent.
Guests were also invited to take any other measures that would make them feel safer, such as avoiding crowded areas of the ship – like not getting into packed elevators or skipping themed parties.
But while gastrointestinal illness is never fun, the outbreak was not severe enough to necessitate any modifications to the itinerary or entertainment onboard.
Two Guests Sue Royal Caribbean Following Outbreak on Alaska Sailing