Norwegian Cruise Line has temporarily closed hot tubs and heated whirlpools aboard Norwegian Prima while working with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following three reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease among passengers who sailed on the ship in May and July 2026.
The cruise line has notified guests about the investigation, although no source of the infections has been established and testing conducted aboard the ship has so far returned negative results for Legionella bacteria.
“We are reaching out to you to inform you that Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding three reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease involving passengers who sailed on the Norwegian Prima in May and July 2026,” the notification said.
Norwegian Cruise Line has not identified the specific sailings involved, and it remains unclear whether any of the three passengers contracted the infection aboard Norwegian Prima or were exposed elsewhere.
Precautionary closures during testing
As part of the investigation, Norwegian Cruise Line has tested water-related equipment and fixtures aboard Norwegian Prima, including faucets, showers and hot tubs. According to the cruise line, all results received so far have been negative.
Despite those results, public hot tubs and heated whirlpools on private balconies are being kept out of service while further sampling and any necessary follow-up work are completed.
“As a precaution, all public hot tubs and private balcony heated whirlpools will remain closed and will reopen only after sampling has been completed and any necessary remediation measures have been carried out in accordance with CDC guidelines,” the notification said.
No other illness-related operational changes have been announced aboard the ship.
Norwegian Prima has capacity for 3,099 guests and is currently operating seven-night Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, with itineraries covering both the eastern and western Caribbean.
Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. Unlike many respiratory illnesses, it is generally not transmitted directly from one person to another. Infection can occur when people inhale small droplets of water containing the bacteria, making complex water systems and equipment capable of producing mist potential areas of concern during an investigation.
The CDC says symptoms generally begin between two and 14 days after exposure, although they can sometimes take longer to appear. Symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches.
People aged 50 and over, current or former smokers, and those with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems are among those at increased risk. Legionnaires’ disease is treated with antibiotics and can require hospital care.
Because symptoms can emerge days after exposure and travellers may encounter multiple water systems before, during and after a holiday, the three reported cases do not by themselves establish Norwegian Prima as the source of the infections.
Previous cruise ship investigations
The Norwegian Prima investigation follows several other Legionnaires’ disease alerts involving cruise ships in recent years.
Norwegian Cruise Line guests were notified in February 2026 about two reported cases involving passengers who had sailed aboard Norwegian Encore in December 2025. A separate notification concerning possible exposure was issued to Norwegian Epic guests in November 2025.
Other cruise lines have also taken precautionary measures following reported cases. Royal Caribbean notified guests in January 2025 in connection with cases involving passengers from Symphony of the Seas sailings in October and December 2024, while Celebrity Cruises issued a warning in January 2024 after two cases were associated with Celebrity Ascent.
In the latest case, Norwegian Cruise Line and the CDC are continuing their investigation aboard Norwegian Prima, with the affected hot tubs and whirlpools remaining closed until sampling is completed and any required remediation has been carried out.
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