Thousands of passengers aboard the Costa Favolosa docked in Lerwick without prior notification of a gastrointestinal illness outbreak, prompting local health concerns and calls for improved communication between cruise operators and authorities.
An Italian cruise line has faced serious criticism following a sickness outbreak aboard its vessel, the Costa Favolosa, which resulted in thousands of passengers arriving in Lerwick, Shetland, without prior notification of the health issues on board. Passengers reported symptoms of mild gastrointestinal illness during a week-long Northern European voyage from Hamburg, and both NHS Shetland and Lerwick Port Authority specified they were not alerted to any public health concerns prior to the ship's docking on May 20.
Dr Susan Laidlaw, director of Public Health at NHS Shetland, indicated that the health authority learned of the illness through the Port Health route late in the afternoon of the ship's arrival. She noted that while a small number of passengers exhibited symptoms of gastroenteritis and were being managed appropriately by the vessel’s medical team, the delay in communication sparked local concern. Lerwick Port Authority clarified that vessels calling at the harbour must declare any health concerns, and in this case, no prior warning was given regarding the Costa Favolosa.
As soon as it became evident that passengers were unwell, local operators swiftly cancelled shore excursions. Sonia Robertson, managing director of R. Robertson and Son, noted that the situation could have severely impacted her business and employees, particularly after witnessing a guest becoming acutely ill. Reports highlighted that almost 3,000 passengers congregated in the town centre before local businesses were made aware of the situation, leading to calls from community members for better preparation and communication. Celia Smith, the owner of coffee shop Blyde Welcome, expressed frustration over the lack of warning, mentioning the absence of sanitising materials that could have mitigated the spread of illness.
Despite the complaints, cruise operator Costa Cruises maintained that the decision to dock in Lerwick was within regulations and stated that upon observing symptoms among guests, they instituted enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols onboard. Meanwhile, Lerwick Port Authority has reached out to involved parties to improve procedural documentation to prevent such oversights in future.
The incident in Lerwick resonates with several historical instances of gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships. In 2013, the Fred Olsen cruise ship Black Watch returned to Rosyth after 130 passengers fell ill during a Scandinavian voyage, illustrating how common such outbreaks can be in the tightly packed environment of cruise vessels. Previous outbreaks have underscored the challenges of managing health concerns at sea and the swift actions necessary upon docking to safeguard public health. A similar situation occurred in 2010 with the NorthLink ferry Hjaltland, which had to undergo a 48-hour quarantine due to sickness among passengers before alternative transport arrangements were made.
Local health authorities advise that preventative measures like rigorous handwashing and the use of bleach-based cleaning products are essential in mitigating the risk of gastrointestinal infections, particularly in environments like cruise ships that can act as hotspots for such illnesses. Moving forward, the importance of communication between cruise operators and local health authorities will be critical in ensuring public safety and confidence in future tourism activities.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative reports on a sickness outbreak aboard the Costa Favolosa cruise ship, which docked in Lerwick, Shetland, on May 20, 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is May 30, 2025, indicating the report is fresh. The narrative appears to be based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, if earlier versions show different figures, dates, or quotes, these discrepancies should be flagged. Additionally, if the article includes updated data but recycles older material, this may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Dr. Susan Laidlaw, director of Public Health at NHS Shetland, and Sonia Robertson, managing director of R. Robertson and Son. A search for the earliest known usage of these quotes indicates they are original to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, suggesting the content is original. If quote wording varies, these differences should be noted.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a reputable UK news outlet. This is a strength, as it suggests the information is likely accurate and trustworthy. However, if the narrative originates from an obscure, unverifiable, or single-outlet source, this uncertainty should be flagged. Additionally, if a person, organisation, or company mentioned in the report cannot be verified online, such as having no public presence, records, or legitimate website, this should be flagged as potentially fabricated.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative reports on a sickness outbreak aboard the Costa Favolosa cruise ship, which docked in Lerwick, Shetland, on May 20, 2025. Passengers reported symptoms of mild gastrointestinal illness during a week-long Northern European voyage from Hamburg. Both NHS Shetland and the Lerwick Port Authority specified they were not alerted to any public health concerns prior to the ship's docking. This claim is plausible and aligns with known patterns of gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships. However, if the narrative lacks supporting detail from any other reputable outlet, this should be flagged clearly. Additionally, if the report lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, or dates, this should be flagged as potentially synthetic. If language or tone feels inconsistent with the region or topic, such as strange phrasing or wrong spelling variant, this should be flagged as suspicious. If the structure includes excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim, this should be noted as a possible distraction tactic. If the tone is unusually dramatic, vague, or doesn’t resemble typical corporate or official language, this should be flagged for further scrutiny.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be a fresh and original report from a reputable source, with direct quotes from verifiable individuals. The claims made are plausible and align with known patterns of gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships. No significant issues were identified in the freshness, quotes, source reliability, or plausibility checks.
