Passengers departing on Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas this week have received a letter warning that a guest on a previous cruise was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease after returning home.
Royal Caribbean has not said which sailing the guest was on, and it is not known where they were exposed to the disease.
The letter was issued after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted Royal Caribbean to the case.
According to a report on Royal Caribbean Blog, an unofficial fan site, it was received by a passenger booked on Symphony of the Seas’ next cruise, a nine-night Caribbean sailing, which is due to depart on Wednesday (30 April) from Cape Liberty, New Jersey.
It was also sent to guests who sailed on the ship in March and April.
In the letter, Royal Caribbean said: “The CDC has advised that while they are unsure where the guest was exposed, an individual who recently sailed on Symphony of the Seas was later diagnosed with Legionella. As a precautionary measure, we implemented heightened sanitation protocols and followed all CDC guidance.”
Legionnaires’ disease is contracted by inhaling water droplets containing Legionella bacteria, often from sources such as air conditioning units or hot tubs. It is not transmitted from person to person.
Most people who contract Legionnaires’ disease do not get sick, but it can affect elderly people and those with existing medical conditions. Common symptoms include a cough, shortness of breath, a temperature, headaches and muscle aches.
Travel Gossip has approached Royal Caribbean for comment.
