Norwegian Prima Probes 3 Legionnaires’ Cases After 99 CDC Score in June

Norwegian Cruise Line has reached out to recent guests to inform them that they are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The reason? Three passengers who sailed aboard Norwegian Prima earlier this summer (May and July) were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, although the source of the exposure hasn’t yet been determined.

Here’s why the ship’s hot tubs are out of service, and how this news dropped after the ship scored an almost-perfect health rating with the CDC in June.

Three Passengers Contract Disease

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. People get it by inhaling tiny droplets of mist or steam that carry the bacteria.

And since warm water environments are the ideal breeding ground for Legionella, public hot tubs and spa whirlpools are usually the first places health officials check.

According to NCL, three passengers who traveled on Norwegian Prima during May and July 2026 were diagnosed after returning home.

The hard part of narrowing down how people get the disease is the fact that it can take up to two weeks for a person to show symptoms.

There still isn’t solid evidence showing that these three passengers came into contact with the bacteria on the ship.

Hot Tubs Shutdown

NCL clarified that the exact source of exposure has not been discovered just yet. It is still possible the cruise passengers came into contact with the bacteria somewhere else before or after their cruise.

So, the fact that the hot tubs are closed is only a precaution and not an indicator that the disease has been linked to them.

The notification sent to guests said:

“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.”

Norwegian Cruise Line swabbed and tested water sources throughout the 3,200-passenger ship, including showers, faucets, and other areas involving water.

The good news is that every single water test result returned so far has come back negative for Legionella.

The hot tubs will remain closed until more testing and cleaning procedures fully wrap up.

A Near-Perfect CDC Score in June

Just as news of this CDC investigation began making rounds, health inspection records show that Norwegian Prima earned a 99 out of 100 on its official CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) inspection.

The surprise inspection took place on June 3, 2026 which was right in the middle of the timeframe when the three affected passengers sailed.

These inspections always include water tests, including hot tubs and other areas of the ship, but it can take a specialized lab test to find microscopic bacteria hiding in certain areas.

If you are sailing on Norwegian Prima soon, there is no need to panic. The vessel is operating normally, all dining and entertainment options are open, and routine water tests have come back clear.

The main inconvenience for now will simply be missing out on hot tub access while the CDC and NCL finish their investigation process.

Also important to note, most people exposed to Legionella do not get sick, and those who do typically recover well with standard antibiotics when treated early.