Crew Barred From Leaving Ship Following Minor Gastro Illness Outbreak

Crew members aboard the luxury cruise ship Azamara Onward have been unexpectedly confined to the vessel following an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness during the current sailing.

As a result, they were not be allowed to go ashore when the ship visited the tender port of Saint Tropez, France, on Saturday, 5th July 2025.

The restriction was confirmed in an internal communication from the cruise line’s human resources department:

“Sadly, based on our current OPRP status, crew will not be allowed to ride in tenders with guests tomorrow.”

The term OPRP refers to “operational prerequisite program,” which governs food safety and sanitation measures when a health-related incident occurs onboard.

Though the outbreak appears to be relatively contained – with fewer than 10 guests reported to be in isolation due to symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea – the cruise line has enacted strict measures.

Reasonable Measures, or an Overreaction?

Azamara Onward can accommodate up to 826 guests, meaning the number of symptomatic passengers represents less than 1.5% of guests onboard.

It’s unclear whether any crew members have been affected.

On average, the chance of catching norovirus on a cruise is 0.018%. Ships that have confirmed outbreaks of the virus must report them, with Holland America Line the worst-affected in 2024.

However, the total ban on shore leave for all crew appears to be a pre-emptive effort to avoid any potential cross-contamination between guests and crew during tender operations and on land.

While safeguarding guest health is understandably a top priority, the decision has raised concerns among crew members and observers alike.

Onboard staff work long hours across extended contracts and often rely on occasional hours ashore for rest and mental well-being – especially in picturesque ports like Saint Tropez, a coveted stop along the French Riviera.

Critics of the policy have noted that more moderate steps could have been taken.

Proposals such as assigning separate tenders for crew, sanitizing boats between transfers, or even restricting shore leave only for crew working in food service or housekeeping may have served the same goal with less impact on morale.

Nevertheless, Azamara appears committed to keeping the outbreak contained.

There’s currently no indication of additional measures planned for Azamara Onward’s next 8-night voyage to Civitavecchia (Rome).

The 30,277-gross-ton ship was in the middle of a 10-night one-way Mediterranean cruise that departed Barcelona on June 27 and had already called at Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, and Marseille before the incident.

The vessel is carrying approximately 370 crew members.

While this latest incident is minor compared to past outbreaks on larger ships, it’s a reminder of how seriously cruise lines must continue to treat onboard illness – even in relatively isolated cases.

For the crew, however, being confined to the ship amid calm seas and sunny Riviera coastlines is undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.