The Caribbean Princess (Carnival Corporation) cruise ship made a scheduled stop at the Amber Cove terminal in Maimón, Puerto Plata on 8 May 2026, amid an active norovirus outbreak that has infected at least 102 people on board. The vessel, carrying 3,116 passengers and 1,131 crew members, arrived under strict surveillance by Dominican health authorities.
The incident occurred during the 13-day “Caribbean Cruise” (itinerary April 28-May 11, roundtrip from Florida/homeport changing from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale to Port Canaveral) with the ship scheduled to visit Bahamas (Princess Cays), Aruba (Oranjestad), Curacao (Willemstad), Bonaire (Kralendijk), St Maarten (Philipsburg), Puerto Rico (San Juan), Dominicana (Amber Cove) and Bahamas (Nassau).
According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 115 cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported during the voyage that began on 28 April 2026. This included 102 passengers (3.3%) and 13 crew members (1.2%).
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus often referred to as the “stomach flu,” though it is unrelated to influenza. It spreads rapidly in closed environments like cruise ships through direct contact with an infected person, consumption of contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces and then the mouth.
The primary risk associated with docking in Puerto Plata was the potential for “shedding” the virus into the local community. While norovirus is rarely fatal, it causes acute gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain) that can lead to severe dehydration, particularly in children and the elderly.
Official Response: Ministry of Public Health and CMD
The Ministry of Public Health activated its biosecurity protocols immediately upon the ship’s arrival. Health officials confirmed that 26 individuals (21 passengers and 5 crew members) were kept in strict preventive isolation on board.
“We have exhausted the surveillance and control protocols,” the Ministry stated, clarifying that those in isolation were stable and receiving hydration. The Ministry prohibited the disembarkation of any symptomatic or isolated individuals to prevent local spread.
The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) emphasized that the key is prevention through rigorous hygiene, specifically constant hand washing and careful food handling. The association backed the Ministry’s decision to allow the ship to dock under controlled conditions, noting that the virus is not airborne and the risk to the general public remains low as long as isolation protocols are respected.
The Caribbean Princess departed Puerto Plata on the afternoon of 9 May 2026, continuing its itinerary toward Nassau and its final destination, Port Canaveral, Florida, where it is scheduled to undergo a deep-cleaning “turnaround” disinfection on 11 May 2026.
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11 May 2026