A doctor is urging would-be vacationers to think twice before booking a cruise.
Dr. Rubin, a pediatrician who frequently shares medical tips on TikTok, recently dropped a viral video explaining exactly why he refuses to set foot on a cruise ship — and why others should be just as cautious.
“You’re Not Gonna See Me on a Cruise Ship Anytime Soon”
“Here’s why you’re not gonna see me on a cruise ship anytime soon, and I encourage people to consider this before they book a cruise,” Dr. Rubin began in his TikTok.
What’s got him sounding the alarm? Recent cuts to public health agencies, particularly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and how that’s impacting cruise ship safety inspections.
“One of [the cuts] is to the CDC's vessel sanitation program, which conducts health inspections on cruise ships at least twice a year and they trace outbreaks to help reduce the chances of more people getting sick,” he explained.
Dr. Rubin pointed out that the cuts are especially baffling because the inspections aren't even taxpayer-funded.
“These cuts make no sense because it's not funded by taxpayer dollars,” he said. “Then cruise ships pay for these health inspections so it's not like we’re saving any money from the taxpayers' perspective. This makes absolutely no sense.”
12 Norovirus Outbreaks — and It’s Only April
According to Rubin, cruise ships have already seen 12 norovirus outbreaks this year, a sharp rise from the eight outbreaks recorded last year. These numbers are the reason he is staying firmly on dry land.
That warning comes on the heels of a major outbreak aboard the Coral Princess that struck 69 passengers and 13 crew members during a nearly three-week voyage from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale. The ship, which set sail on February 21, made stops along the Mexican coast before crossing through the Panama Canal into the Caribbean. Sick passengers and crew were isolated and public areas were disinfected, The New York Post reported.
According to the CDC, this was the second time this year the Coral Princess was hit by norovirus — following a previous outbreak in January.
The illness, known for causing vomiting and diarrhea, is extremely contagious and spreads fast, especially in cramped environments like cruise ships.
“Cruise Ships Are Just One Giant Petri Dish”
Unsurprisingly, Rubin’s video sparked heated debate. Some viewers called him out for “fear mongering.”
“We cruise every year and just went in mid February, which is prime time for norovirus. We were on Carnival's biggest ship and were fine,” one person commented.
“I’m a travel agent and you’re fine,” another added.
But plenty of people were on Rubin’s side.
“I’m anti-cruise even in normal times. Ships are just one giant Petri dish and it’s a hard pass for me,” one TikTok user wrote.
“They call Norovirus ‘cruise ship virus’ for a reason,” someone else chimed in.
“I caught covid on last one. Never again,” swore another.
A Deadly Trend?
And the Coral Princess incident is just part of a larger trend. The CDC reported that 2024 was the worst year ever for stomach flu outbreaks on U.S. cruise ships, with 16 total outbreaks—five of them in December alone, accounting for 890 cases.
The last time the U.S. saw that many outbreaks in one year? 2012.
Expert Warns About Food To Avoid On Cruises
If you’re setting sail anytime soon, cruise YouTuber Angie, aka Cruise Blog, has a few culinary warnings that could save you from spending your vacation curled up in your cabin.
Angie shared five foods she avoids while cruising: communal condiments (aka the buffet’s bacteria bomb), tap water (especially when docked in places like Mexico), scrambled eggs (often made from powdered mix), self-serve soft-serve ice cream (handled by hundreds), and dinner rolls (because they’ll fill you up before the main event).
"Since their temperature isn't being controlled, the chances of pathogenic bacteria growing is increased," she said about buffet condiments. Her advice? Skip anything that’s been manhandled or left out too long — and maybe keep a refillable water bottle and hand sanitizer close by.