Key Aspects:
- Several guests of Celebrity Summit’s previous sailing experienced gastrointestinal illness.
- Out of an abundance of caution, the ship was deep cleaned and sanitized before guests were allowed to embark on April 30.
- Passengers were told not to arrive at the cruise port before 11:30 a.m. or before their scheduled appointment time.
Embarkation for Celebrity Summit’s April 30, 2026, sailing got off to a slightly late start, but it was for a very good reason.
Because multiple guests onboard the previous sailing reported gastrointestinal symptoms to the medical facility, the cruise line enacted enhanced sanitation protocols and told the next round of guests not to arrive at the port early to allow time for a deep clean.
The up to 2,218 passengers booked on the current 8-night sailing were told not to arrive at the Los Angeles World Cruise Center before 11:30 a.m. PST and not to arrive before their designated appointments.
Read Also: Cruise Ship Outbreaks are On the Rise – Should Cruisers Worry?
“During the previous sailing, a few guests aboard Celebrity Summit presented to the medical facility with symptoms of gastrointestinal illness,” Celebrity Cruises wrote in a letter, which was obtained by Cruise Hive.
“Due to anticipated delays in the debarkation process for our previous Summit sailing, the terminal will not be open until 11:30 AM. Guests must arrive at their selected arrival time to ensure a smooth boarding process,” the letter stated.
Guests who attempted to arrive at the port too early ran the risk of being turned away and told to come back later.
Quick Action May Have Prevented Full-Fledged Outbreak
It’s commendable to see the approximately 999 crew members onboard Celebrity Summit spring into action at the first sign of illness. The quick response may have prevented the situation from becoming an actual outbreak.
As of the time of publication, no formal outbreak has been announced by the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, which tracks illness on cruise ships. This means less than 3% of the population onboard became sick, or else an outbreak would have been declared.
Enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols were quickly implemented onboard, including more frequent cleanings of high touch surfaces and public areas.
“Please know that the safety and comfort of our guests and crew are always our top priority,” Celebrity Cruises reassured.
“In an abundance of caution and to help prevent any spread of illness, we have implemented enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures onboard as recommended by public health agencies worldwide,” the cruise line explained.
Additionally, guests who are joining the 90,940-gross ton vessel for back-to-back cruises were asked to temporarily disembark the ship in Los Angeles to allow the sanitation to take place.
“On the Summit now doing a B2B2B. 139 of us are now back on the ship as the sanitation has been completed,” one such guest said on Facebook at around 11:20 a.m. PST on April 30.
The crew will likely continue to practice the enhanced cleaning protocols throughout the current sailing to make sure any trace of illness has been knocked out.
No Itinerary Changes Reported
Per cruise tracking data, Celebrity Summit left Los Angeles on time at 4 p.m. on April 30 and has officially begun her one-way voyage to Vancouver, British Columbia. As there was no delay in setting sail, the itinerary did not need to change.
Before arriving in Vancouver on May 8, the Millennium-class ship will visit San Diego and San Francisco in California, as well as Victoria in British Columbia.
The Celebrity ship will then spend the 2026 Alaska season going back and forth between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska, as she operates a series of (hopefully illness-free) 7-night cruises.
