Popular cruise line shuts down fan-favorite amenity during health scare

A cruise line reportedly shut down hot tubs and heated whirlpools aboard one of its ships as a precaution after three confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease involving former passengers.

The cases involved three travelers who sailed aboard Norwegian Prima, a 3,200-passenger vessel, in May and July 2026, the blog Cruise Fever reported.

The source of the exposure has not yet been determined.

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"We can confirm that three guests who sailed aboard one of our ships recently were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease following their travels," a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line told Fox News Digital this week. 

"While it has not been confirmed if the exposure occurred on the ship or elsewhere, we are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate these cases, as well as mitigate any further incidents, and have notified the appropriate guests and crew directly per the CDC’s guidance," the spokesperson added.

"We have elevated our sanitation procedures as part of our routine measures to ensure a safe environment on board and will continue to take any necessary measures to protect our guests and crew," the spokesperson continued.

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Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which can spread when people inhale small water droplets containing the bacteria.

It can pose a greater risk to those over 50, current or former smokers and people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems.

The cruise line said the ship's hot tubs and heated whirlpools would remain closed as a precaution while testing continues, according to the Cruise Fever report. 

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"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," the blog noted.

Online, people shared mixed reactions. 

"Stay out of the hot tub, the bacteria thrives in hot tubs! It's not transferable from person to person," one person wrote.

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"I have never, nor will I ever, get in a public hot tub," said another Reddit user. "I’ve been on over 20 cruises and have never gotten in a single pool or hot tub on one. No, thank you!" 

"I booked this cruise over a year ago. So I'm pretty much going no matter what," the original poster wrote. "Can't say I feel great about it, though."

"The health and safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. As such, we operate at the very highest public health and sanitation standards," the Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson added.