Cruise Line Alerts Guests About Health Concern

Posted onAuthorChris Owen

  • Norwegian Cruise Line issued a warning regarding two former Norwegian Epic passengers who contracted Legionnaires’ disease.
  • The cruise line is cooperating with the CDC to investigate the source of the Legionella bacteria exposure.
  • Current and recent guests are advised to seek medical attention if flu-like symptoms develop within 14 days of their voyage.
  • Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia spread via water droplets from sources like showers and hot tubs

Norwegian Cruise Line has issued a health advisory to current and recent guests of the Norwegian Epic after learning that two former passengers were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease. The notice was sent on November 4, 2025, to passengers currently on a 12-night Mediterranean voyage and those who had recently disembarked the ship.

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria, which spreads through inhaling contaminated water droplets from sources like hot tubs, showers, and fountains. Symptoms, which resemble the flu and include fever, cough, and muscle aches, typically emerge two to 14 days after exposure.

The cruise line stated that it is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is investigating the cases to determine if the passengers were infected via the ship’s water sources or an external source. Norwegian Cruise Line’s standard protocol involves cooperating with the CDC on such investigations.

The cautionary notice advises guests currently onboard to notify the ship’s medical staff if they develop symptoms. For passengers who have already disembarked, the warning urges them to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear within 14 days of their cruise, and to inform their doctor about the potential need to test for Legionnaires’ disease and prescribe antibiotics. This is not an isolated incident; similar disease warnings have been issued by Norwegian Cruise Line and other major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, in recent years following passenger diagnoses.