A Sinking Ship: The Alarming Truth About Royal Caribbean’s Latest Failures

Royal Caribbean, one of the most recognizable names in the cruise industry, has found itself under fire after a shocking inspection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The inspection, conducted on the Symphony of the Seas, revealed a slew of alarming issues that have left passengers and legal experts alike questioning the cruise line’s commitment to safety and hygiene. Spencer Aronfeld, a lawyer who specializes in suing cruise lines, took to TikTok to expose the disturbing findings, calling them "absolutely horrifying." In this summary, we’ll break down the key issues, the potential consequences, and the public’s reaction to this troubling situation.

Food Safety Failures: A Recipe for Disaster

The CDC’s inspection uncovered some disturbing food safety violations that could have put the health of passengers and crew at risk. According to Aronfeld, raw eggs and raw hamburgers were being stored at incorrect refrigeration temperatures on the ship. This is a serious breach of food safety protocols, as improper storage can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. If consumed, these contaminated foods could have caused severe foodborne illnesses among passengers.

But that wasn’t the only issue. Aronfeld also revealed that crew members at the ship’s Johnny Rockets restaurant were handling ice with their bare hands, despite having open wounds. This is a clear violation of basic hygiene standards and raises serious questions about how food is handled on the ship. The combination of these two issues paints a worrying picture of a cruise line that may be cutting corners when it comes to food safety.

Daycare Disaster: Sick Children and Failed Protocols

The problems didn’t stop at the kitchen. Aronfeld also highlighted a disturbing incident involving the ship’s daycare center. Several children in the center fell ill with severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including projectile diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. These symptoms are classic signs of norovirus, a highly contagious illness that can spread quickly in confined spaces like a cruise ship.

What’s even more alarming is that the daycare center failed to follow proper protocols for reporting these illnesses to the ship’s medical center. As a result, these sick children were not isolated, and their illnesses were not reported to the CDC as required. This failure not only put the children at risk but also allowed the potential norovirus to spread to other passengers, including the children’s parents.

Inspection Results: A Barely Passing Grade

The CDC’s inspection of the Symphony of the Seas resulted in a score of 86, which Aronfeld described as "barely satisfactory." To put this in perspective, a score of 85 or below would have been considered unsatisfactory, potentially leading to the cancellation of the cruise. While Royal Caribbean narrowly avoided this outcome, the fact that they were just one point above an unsatisfactory score is cause for concern.

Aronfeld believes that the cruise line should have been forced to cancel the trip, given the seriousness of the issues uncovered during the inspection. He also noted that it would cost Royal Caribbean approximately $65,000 to address these problems within the short timeframe allowed by the CDC. However, as of February 21, the cruise line had yet to submit a corrective report, leading Aronfeld to suspect that the issues may still exist.

Passengers at Risk: The Lingering Concerns

With the Symphony of the Seas still sailing and carrying thousands of passengers, the lack of a corrective report from Royal Caribbean is deeply troubling. Aronfeld expressed his hope that the cruise line had taken at least some steps to address the problems, but the absence of official documentation leaves many questions unanswered. If the issues identified by the CDC have not been resolved, passengers on current and future voyages could be at risk of falling ill.

This situation also raises broader concerns about accountability in the cruise industry. Cruise lines are responsible for the safety and health of their passengers, but incidents like this suggest that some companies may not be taking these responsibilities as seriously as they should. As Aronfeld put it, "The ship is sailing, and it’s got passengers on board right now, but I sure hope that Royal Caribbean has done at least enough to correct these issues."

Passenger Reactions: Outrage and Disappointment

Aronfeld’s videos exposing Royal Caribbean’s failings sparked a wave of reactions from his TikTok followers. Many expressed outrage and disappointment, with one commenter writing, "Disney Cruise Line would NEVER" allow such issues to occur. Others were more sarcastic, jokingly renaming the ship the "Symphony of Disease."

Some users were more philosophical, with one person commenting, "Cruises are disgusting…. Is this surprising?" This sentiment highlights a growing distrust of the cruise industry among some consumers. Others called for stricter oversight, with one commenter urging the CDC to "inspect every single ship docked in the US nonstop."

Aronfeld himself shared his own disappointment, responding to a commenter who wrote, "I’m disappointed in RC, I expected more from this cruise line," with a simple "Me too!" This exchange underscores the broader sense of betrayal felt by many fans of Royal Caribbean.

Conclusion: A Call for Greater Accountability

The issues uncovered on the Symphony of the Seas are a wake-up call for the cruise industry and its regulators. While Royal Caribbean narrowly avoided an unsatisfactory inspection score, the problems identified by the CDC are serious and demand immediate attention. The fact that the cruise line had not submitted a corrective report as of late February suggests a lack of urgency in addressing these issues, which could have serious consequences for passenger health and safety.

As Aronfeld and his followers have made clear, the public expects more from companies like Royal Caribbean. Cruise lines must take food safety, hygiene, and passenger welfare seriously, and regulators must hold them accountable when they fall short. Until then, passengers would do well to remain vigilant and demand greater transparency from the companies they trust with their vacations—and their health.