A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) inspection of Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas has sparked controversy after a maritime lawyer described the findings as “absolutely horrifying,” New York Post reports.
Spencer Aronfeld, a lawyer specializing in cruise-related cases, shared his concerns in a viral TikTok video, highlighting multiple health and safety violations found on the ship.
According to Aronfeld, the biggest issue involved improper food storage. The report revealed that raw eggs and raw hamburgers were stored at incorrect refrigeration temperatures, raising potential food safety risks.
Additionally, the inspection cited hygiene concerns among crew members. At Johnny Rockets, some staff members allegedly had open wounds and were seen handling ice with bare hands, which could pose a risk of contamination.
Beyond food safety, the inspection found failures in the ship’s daycare center. Aronfeld reported that several children suffered from severe gastrointestinal illnesses, including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. However, the daycare center allegedly failed to follow CDC protocols for reporting and referring affected children to medical staff.
“That misstep allowed these poor kids to spread a potential norovirus to their parents and other passengers on the ship,” Aronfeld explained.
The CDC scored the ship an 86, which Aronfeld described as “barely satisfactory.” He noted that a score of 85 or below would have been considered unsatisfactory, possibly resulting in a cruise cancellation.
“Quite frankly, I think they should have [canceled the cruise],” Aronfeld stated.
According to him, Royal Caribbean will need to spend approximately $65,000 to correct the violations within a limited timeframe.
In a follow-up video, Aronfeld claimed that as of February 21, Royal Caribbean had not yet submitted a corrective report to the CDC, which is required to demonstrate the company’s plan for addressing the violations.
“Which lends me to believe they haven’t fixed it,” he said. “Which means that these problems are still existing.”
The Symphony of the Seas is currently operating with passengers on board, raising concerns among Aronfeld and his followers about whether adequate corrective measures have been implemented.
The lawyer’s TikTok video sparked a strong reaction from cruise enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Some viewers expressed disappointment in Royal Caribbean, while others questioned cruise hygiene standards in general.
One comment read:
“Disney Cruise Line would NEVER.”
Another user jokingly referred to the ship as “Symphony of Disease.”
Calls for stricter inspections have also emerged, with one person suggesting the CDC should “inspect every single ship docked in the US nonstop.”
