Spencer Aronfeld, an attorney well-known for litigating against cruise lines, has called attention to significant health and safety violations aboard the Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas. This follows a recent inspection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which issued a narrowly passing score.
According to the New York Post, The Symphony of the Seas nearly failed a CDC inspection due to various health infractions, enlightenment shared through Aronfeld's social media.
According to Aronfeld's revelations on TikTok, raw eggs and hamburgers were not stored at the required temperatures on the ship. Further issues included mishaps at Johnny Rockets, where a crew member reportedly handled ice with an open wound, posing a risk of contamination.
The Symphony of the Seas faced additional scrutiny over its handling of a norovirus outbreak potential among passengers, particularly children in daycare facilities. These children experienced severe gastrointestinal symptoms, but the crew failed to report them adequately to the ship’s medical center or the CDC, as required by health regulations.
Aronfeld described the situation as "absolutely horrifying," criticizing the ship's handling of these health risks. He expressed particular concern about the children's capacity to spread illnesses like norovirus to other passengers.
This lack of adequate illness reportage and questionable sanitary practices contributed to the ship receiving an 86 out of 100 on its CDC evaluation, just one point shy of an unsatisfactory score that would necessitate action such as canceling the cruise.
Despite the serious nature of the findings, Aronfeld claimed that Royal Caribbean had yet to issue a necessary corrective action report as of February 21. He estimated that addressing all the issues identified would cost the cruise line about $65,000 — a figure suggesting manageable corrections for a company of its size.
Meanwhile, negative feedback poured in from viewers of Aronfeld’s TikTok video. Comments ranged from concerns over systemic hygiene issues to direct comparisons with other cruise lines, like Disney, asserting a higher standard of care and compliance.
"One point less, which is an 85, would have been an unsatisfactory evaluation, which probably would have caused them to have to cancel the cruise," Aronfeld reflected ominously about the near-miss on the health score.
User reactions on TikTok brought humor and dismay to the public discourse. Phrases like "Symphony of Disease" and jabs at cruising generally being unhygienic underscored the public’s shock and disappointment. Another commenter stated, “I’m disappointed in RC, I expected more from this cruise line,” highlighting a breach of trust between the company and its patrons.
Critiques extended beyond mere disappointment, with calls for more rigorous inspections across all ships docked in the U.S., reflecting a heightened concern for passenger safety broadly across the cruise industry.
Aronfeld responded simply with "Me too!" to a comment hoping for enforced corrections, indicating alignment with his followers’ concerns and the broader plea for accountability and transparency from cruise operators.
"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, but they should have at least reported it to the CDC," said Aronfeld, highlighting ongoing risks without verified remediation.
This situation raises significant questions about the oversight and regulation of cruise ships, especially concerning the enforcement of public health standards and timely responses to potential health threats onboard.
As Royal Caribbean continues its operations, the public and potential passengers weigh the risks while the company either addresses or fails to address the outlined safety and health criticisms.
Without a swift and transparent remedy, Royal Caribbean may damage its reputation and jeopardize the health of its passengers. The public now watches to see how the company will handle the fallout from this inspection and the scrutiny that has followed.
Aronfeld's persistent warning about these cruise health issues serves as a critical prompt for potential reforms in cruise ship operations and regulation, possibly urging stricter compliance to ensure a safe and healthy vacation environment.
The dialogue on social media and beyond continues to reflect a vigilant, if not wary, customer base, expressing a clear expectation for improved standards on cruise ships.
