Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has issued several emails to its customers notifying them that there has been an outbreak of legionnaires on their cruise ships.
Several Cruise related blogs have reported the notification. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2025/04/24/royal-caribbean-issues-warning-after-cruise-passenger-diagnosed-legionnaires
Most importantly, these notifications almost always are prompted by a serious investigation by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/control-legionella/php/guidance/cruise-ship-operators.html
The Legionnaires Lawyer has previously posted about this danger and the CDC has recently investigated two cruise lines for similar serious outbreaks. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7342a3.htm#:~:text=CDC%2C%20in%20collaboration%20with%20the,on%20private%20outdoor%20hot%20tubs.
What is not commonly known or posted to the cruise passengers is the universal obligation of passengers to report any illness or injury to the cruise line within six (6) months of the illness or injury – otherwise they cannot pursue their claim, and then are limited to one (1) year to file a lawsuit. Royal Caribbean’s ticket contract can be found here with those limitations (among many others): https://www.royalcaribbean.com/guest-terms/content/uploads/2023/03/Royal-CTC-U.S.-rev-02.17.23-final.pdf
Legionnaires Disease is a very severe form of pneumonia, but is one that is identifiable and is preventable. It is very important that you contact an attorney immediately to protect your rights if you have become ill or injured on a cruise ship. This is especially true in the case of legionnaires disease when the victim or the family member may still be hospitalized or have limited cognitive ability within those six (6) months after the cruise.
