It’s like deja vu whenever another cruise ship announces there is another confirmed gastrointestinal illness outbreak onboard.
On May 24, 2025, Celebrity Cruises emailed booked passengers on the May 25 sailing on the 130,818 gross ton Celebrity Apex that embarkation out of Southampton will be delayed due to a deep cleaning.
In the email from the cruise line, it stated, “On our recent sailing, some of our guests reported experiencing acute gastroenteritis.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, we’ve heightened our enhanced sanitizing protocols before you board, both within the terminal and onboard the ship, to help safeguard your well-being and ensure a smooth, enjoyable start to your cruise,” the letter continues.
Due to the additional time it will take to implement these extra cleaning measures, the terminal will now open for boarding at 1:30 p.m., two hours later than originally planned.
Also, guests should plan to arrive no later than 3:30 p.m., as they are all expected to be fully checked in and onboard by 4:30 p.m.
Celebrity Cruises is urging passengers not to show up before their assigned arrival times, as it could cause extended wait times and crowd the already limited seating at the terminal.
Currently affected by the outbreak are those guests on the 8-night round-trip cruise out of Southampton, having departed on May 17.
This itinerary included stops at Zeebrugge in Belgium, as well as several stops in Norway, including Olden, Geiranger, Alesund, and Stavanger, disembarking in Southampton on May 25.
Unfortunately, this was also the cruise line’s 2025 President’s Cruise, as top executive Laura Hodges Bethge joined the sailing.
It is unknown if the outbreak affected any of the special activities planned, as many involved culinary events.
Despite the delay in embarkation, the May 25 sailing is set to go on as planned with no changes to the itinerary.
The 11-night round-trip voyage will call on five ports, including Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, and Visby.
Mixed Reactions to the Situation & Issue Since Dry Dock
Guests who are currently on the ship shared their experiences online, with some saying the staff were doing a good job of controlling the situation, while others felt left in the dark about what was going on.
“We are onboard now and they really are doing their best, and even then, I have seen a couple of people try and refuse to wash their hands or sanitize before entering the buffet!!” one person shared.
“I’m currently on the Apex coming into Southampton tomorrow, we have not been notified of this. I’ve not seen any increased hygiene measures other than the usual dispensers,” added another who ended up getting sick during the cruise.
Other passengers also shared that they had gotten the gastro bug throughout the week — some singing the praises of the health team, but most not being thrilled when having to quarantine and even miss ports.
The 2,910-guest Celebrity Apex was dry-docked from March to early April of 2025, and in the time since, it has not been the smoothest sailing.
Throughout the last several voyages, passengers have reported minor gastrointestinal outbreaks and small onboard changes, such as salt and pepper shakers being replaced with sachets.
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Some guests have also mentioned that menus had been removed from dining areas, and crew members had been stationed in crowded areas such as theaters to encourage hand washing.
These occurrences of illness among passengers so far have not been severe enough to enact deeper cleaning protocols, that was until this week.
The outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on Celebrity Apex is the fourth this week, as Enchanted Princess, Crown Princess, and Costa Favolosa also experienced the same situation.
