Royal Caribbean cruise horror as mystery virus outbreak leaves 140 passengers vomiting
A luxury cruise turned into a nightmare after a mystery illness impacted more than 140 people. A total of 134 passengers and seven crew members onboard the Royal Caribbean ship Navigator of the Seas reported grim symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting, according to the US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It is not clear what caused the outbreak on the cruise, which took passengers from Los Angeles in the US to Mexico and ended on July 11. The CDC said extra cleaning measures had been put in place by Royal Caribbean and those affected had been isolated.
'The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority,' a spokesperson for parent company Royal Caribbean Group told USA Today. 'To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.'
So far in 2025, 18 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships have reached a CDC threshold for public notification. There were 18 in the whole of 2024 and 14 in 2023.
Most cases are linked to norovirus, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, body aches including stomach pains, a headache and high temperature. It usually gets better in around two to three days.
This comes after an industry expert said small ship cruise lines may stop putting close-up images of polar bears in brochures because of new restrictions in Norway.
Akvile Marozaite, chief executive of UK-based global representative body Expedition Cruise Network, said limits on how close ships can get to the animals means the sector must change 'how we communicate' with travellers.
Polar bears are a key draw for people embarking on sailings to Norwegian-ruled archipelago Svalbard, as they can be observed in their natural Arctic habit.
But concerns about interference from humans means the government has banned ships in the region from being closer than 500 metres from the animals.
Ms Marozaite said the sector is partly paying the price for 'always talking about polar bears' in relation to Svalbard trips.
She told the PA news agency: 'Of course they are something that people want to see, but expedition cruising to Svalbard is actually an incredible opportunity to experience a lot of other things about the destination.There is incredible human history, beautiful scenery, other species of wildlife.'
Ms Marozaite said cruise lines are continuing to show their guests polar bears, some by sailing closer to Greenland. The impact of Norway's distance rule is 'more to do with how we communicate', she said.
'The communication around Arctic voyages is going to change. Companies hopefully will no longer be putting close-up images of polar bears on the brochure.
'That's a good thing, because finally we will start talking about the destination the way it should be talked about.' But expedition leader and photographer Paul Goldstein criticised the new regulations.
He told The Independent's travel podcast: 'This is a classic example of what I term 'conservation fascism'. I have led small ship charters in the region since 2004.
'Never once have I seen a single incident where tourists intimidate or affect the behaviour of polar bears.' He added that if a camera lens 'the size of a Stinger missile' is required to see polar bears then most visitors will miss out.
Norway's minister of climate and environment Andreas Bjelland Erikse previously said the rules are necessary as climate change is 'leading to more difficult conditions for polar bears on Svalbard'.
He went on: 'It is important for them to be able to search for food, hunt, rest and take care of their cubs without interference from humans.
'That is why we must keep a good distance.' The minimum distance will be reduced to 300 metres from July 1.
The Norwegian government said visitors to Svalbard have 'a duty to retreat to a legal distance' if they encounter a polar bear that is too close. Ships are also banned from carrying more than 200 passengers in the region.
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Times
15 minutes ago
- Times
22 of the best treehouse stays in the UK
There's nothing quite like climbing a ladder or crossing a rope bridge as you approach your cosy perch for the night to zhuzh up some childhood nostalgia. But there are plenty of other reasons to book a stay in a treehouse — whether it's soaking yourself in nature and birdsong, unplugging from modern technology, or admiring the way these woodland homes allow their owners' architectural and artistic creativity to flow more naturally than it would in a commercial hotel. And nowadays you don't have to sacrifice creature comforts either, as many come equipped with swanky coffee machines and sound systems. Thanks to acres of pristine woodland and a legacy of craftsmanship, the UK is one of the best places to find tranquil tree-hugging boltholes. Follow our guide to the best treehouse stays in the UK. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 8 This contemporary-styled treehouse in North Yorkshire is perfect for big families or groups of friends. It sleeps up to eight people across a three-bedroom main cabin and secret separate pod accessed via its own bridge. There's super-fast wi-fi so you can host a film night, and the kitchen, equipped with a Nespresso coffee machine, dishwasher and large fridge-freezer, could be straight out of a showroom. The little details have been considered too, like soft bath robes for stepping out of the outdoor hot tub. It's part of a wider holiday camp which offers in-cabin spa treatments, home-delivered meals and kayak or cycle hire. • Best hotels in Yorkshire £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 At this treehouse you can play act at being lord of the manor by taking your very own boat out for a row on your private lake. Inside, the property is similarly full of sweet touches and the hosts even provide milk and breakfast cereals on arrival in case you don't have time to pick some up. But if it's pure luxury you're after, be warned: this is not it. The treehouse is totally off-grid, so fresh drinking water comes from a bowser, the cooking facilities are a gas camping stove, and if you need the loo, you'll have to head to the composting loo among the trees. Oh and there's no shower. It is, however, well located with knockout views. Both Dartmoor National Park and the rugged north Devon coast are a short hop away. • Cornwall v Devon: which is better? ££ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 5 A country house hotel for our times, Wildhive Callow Hall, outside Ashbourne, has an indoors-outdoors approach that extends to the accommodation. As well as 15 bedrooms in the main house (appropriately decorated in soft botanical colours and leafy fabrics) there are 11 one-bedroom suites peppered through the woods. For ultimate woodland escapism, however, the ones to book are the hotel's two treehouses. They're geared more towards self-catering than the one-bedroom Hives, with open-plan sitting rooms and kitchens, outdoor copper baths, two en suite bedrooms each and a pup-friendly policy. • Lake District v Peak District: which is better? £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 10 If walkers and mountain bikers go down to the woods at Garwnant they will be in for a big surprise. As well as the kingfishers and otters they're used to spotting at Coed Taf Fawr — the large forest area that Garwnant belongs to — they will see much larger visitors; Forest Holidays opened a site here in 2023, covering 400 acres and including three Golden Oak treehouses. These four-bedroom cabins on stilts have a further treehouse suite reached via a rope bridge. Looks-wise they veer more towards Dunelm than Grand Designs, but they're an oak-solid option for multigenerational groups. • Best beaches in Wales £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 This wonky house at the top of an old oak looks like something that's been magicked together by one of the fairies in Brian Froud's paintings. Shelves built into the tree's gnarled trunk, straw-bale walls, off-kilter staircases winding up into the branches, a skylit master bedroom accessed via a steel ladder — you'll find them all here, as well as hand-carved benches, a cob fire and a wood-fired Japanese-style hot tub. It's properly off-grid, with a composting loo, solar lighting and zero wi-fi — but there are few more bewitching places near the Welsh borders. • Most luxurious places to stay in Herefordshire ££ | Sleeps 4 With its conical roof, arched windows and lofty cedar rafters, there's a hint of Harry Potter about this charming little treehouse near Mayfield. A winding boardwalk leads up to the cabin, lodged in its own area of private woodland. Inside, there's space for a lounge (with sofa and wood-burner), and a light-dappled kitchen and bathroom, while the master bedroom is just about big enough for a family of four, with a couple of extra beds in the loft (accessed by ladder). The decked terrace makes an ideal spot for breakfast, with birdsong providing a bucolic soundtrack. • Best luxury hotels in Sussex £ | Sleeps 2 The outside may whisper 'Squirrel Nutkin' but this treetop hideaway in Anglesey is surprisingly slick inside: its fitted kitchen, modern wood-burner and galaxy of downlights wouldn't look out of place in a conventional holiday cottage. Roughly circular in shape and ringed by a wooden deck, it sits overlooking fields at the end of the owners' garden. Inside, the standout feature is a central glass column that frames the branches of an oak tree: it's a handy reminder to pick up the binoculars and bird-watching guide provided and explore the local wildlife. • Best things to do in Wales £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 4 Tarzan would get a bit more luxury than he bargained for if he were to shimmy up the branches into this Devon treetop retreat, which has a hot tub, pizza oven and copper bath tub on wheels (soak indoors or slide out for an alfresco wallow). Set on a 20-acre estate within the Unesco-designated North Devon Biosphere reserve, the cosy timber hideout is tailor-made for parents seeking romance. As well as a king-size bed with a view, there's a second bedroom with bunk beds and a large projector screen for post-pizza cinema nights. • Best campsites in Cornwall £ | Sleeps 4 Imagine a human-sized bird box shaped a bit like ET's head and you get a pretty close picture of Living-Room's arboreal abodes. Its six two-bedroom treehouses are perched among oak, larch and Scots pine trees outside Machynlleth. There's also a separate treehouse shop. Spiral staircases have been built for five of the treehouses; their rustic style is so in keeping with the surroundings they look as though they've been woven by squirrels. Enjoy bluebell-fringed walks, spring water showers and the chance to do some dark-sky gazing just that bit closer to the stars. ££ | Sleeps 2-4 Cotswolds tree-huggers have been able go one step further and embrace their inner tree-sleeper since six treehouses opened in 2023 at Elmore Court, a sustainable wedding and events venue just west of Gloucester. Don't expect tipsy partygoers to conga through the nearest clearing late at night though. Sleeping between two and four, the high-rise cabins speckle the edge of the estate's woods, well away from wedding parties. Gaze out from your wraparound deck while you wait for your pre-ordered breakfast hamper to arrive, and you can soak up tranquil scenes of the estate's rewilded land. £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 4 This heart-shaped treehouse perches amid Laverock Law's handful of holiday rentals, inland from Holy Island. Crafted from local wood and sheep's wool, it's peppered with low-impact luxuries like organic bedding, hand-thrown crockery and homemade cake. Romantics can wallow in sunrises, sunsets and starry skies with the help of skylights, portholes and even a little heart-shaped pane in the front door, while a bunk room and a sister business offering family-friendly activities such as cooking classes and wild walks make it a good family option too. £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 10 A prow-like RIBA award-winning house, wedged into a wooded slope on the oak-lined Chevithorne Barton estate, Verte is one for those who like to enjoy the high life — in all senses. This towering larch-clad lair dispenses with whimsy in place of elegant, contemporary design and luxury fittings. A circular fireplace takes centre stage if you want to boost the building's geothermal heating, and there's a Sonos sound system. Wood is the focus, though; as well as bosky views and that larch cladding, the house's dining table and spalted stairs are both made from a storm-felled beech tree. £ | Sleeps 2 A collection of hobbit house-like burrows, summer houses and pint-sized cottages on a farm near Dunblane, Craighead is as close as Perthshire gets to Tolkien's Shire. Among its storybook rentals is Ash Tree Howf (not a Hobbitish spelling of house but a Scots word for a haunt), built into an old ash tree. While some treehouses are essentially suites on stilts this is the real deal, its hand-crafted, higgledy-piggledy form topped by little shingle-roofed turrets and embellished by viewing platforms spinning off into the tree's branches. The enchanted forest approach continues inside with a sink set on twig-like legs and a dedicated star-gazing window. • Best unusual places to stay in the UK• Best Airbnbs in the UK ££ | Sleeps 2 Herons, hares and showboating pheasants are amongst the wildlife that call Red Hurworth Farm home. There are plenty of places to spot them during a stay here; on a walk around the wildflower-bracketed reservoir as the sun dips or — perhaps more tempting — as you soak from your hot tub in one of the farm's two treehouses, Nuthatch and Wren, which overlook a natural pond. Despite being cocooned by fields as far as the eye can see, the cedar-clad treehouses are ultra-modern inside with Sonos speakers, underfloor heating and a basket of treats including popcorn and hot chocolate. Should you wish to overlook the reservoir you can also book one of the lakeside lodges — complete with hot tubs and swish, suspended log burners — instead. ££ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 4 Treading a neat line between blingy and bucolic, this two-bedroom treehouse may be off-grid, but solar power and bottled-gas heating mean it's not short on frills; on the decking there's a wood-fired hot tub and a zellige-tiled outdoor shower, while inside you'll find a huge stone bath, Minirig speakers and even a Nutribullet blender. Decorated in soft, muted tones, it has pops of colour to add a playful element, especially in the first floor 'tent' bedroom, which was designed by the interiors company Côte de Folk. It's accessed via a hatch and comes with billowing colour-block curtains and candy-striped bed linen. ££ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 Near Gargunnock, on the fringes of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the four treehouses at Leckie may be clean-lined and contemporary in style but the big idea is minimal impact on the surrounding landscape as it transitions from traditional sporting and farming estate to a more wildlife-focused setting. Each treehouse is built into the canopies of sycamore or oak trees, using timber sourced from the estate, and air-source heat pumps provide heating and hot water. For an alternative warm-up, try a hike around the estate's Leckie Broch and waterfalls. • Most beautiful places in Scotland £ | Sleeps 2 You don't need a particularly good head for heights to stay at this new tin-roofed treehouse a few miles northwest of Penrith. Set on a working farm on the fringes of the Lake District, its position part-way up a hillside means you can walk in at ground level but enjoy sweeping views from its lofty front decking as the land drops away below sturdy birch balustrades. There's a homely, handmade feel to the furnishings: an outdoor bathtub is filled from taps upcycled from copper piping and kitchen cupboards are colourfully mismatched. • Best campsites in the Lake District ££ | Sleeps 2 They've taken the arboreal theme and run with it at the Treehouse at Bainland Lodge Retreats. One of more than 30 different accommodation options in an upmarket 45-acre holiday park, it's a true dendrophile's den with cosy timber walls, a hot tub with a view of the park's lake and trees, and the rustic good looks of a kind of souped-up Swiss Family Robinson homestead. You'll find a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, gym, farm shop and range of bookable activities on the site, which is within walking distance of Woodhall Spa; for a night out on terra firma, take in a screening at the village's legendary Kinema in the Woods. ££ | Sleeps 2 One for those who grew up reading about the mice in the Brambly Hedge children's books, whose multi-storey country houses were hewn into the trunks of old trees. The Old Oak is built around the boughs of a mighty old Essex oak tree, with some of those boughs snaking up through the floors and walls, and staying here is as close as you'll get to a visit to the Old Oak Palace of Lord and Lady Woodmouse. There may not be pantries stuffed with acorns or thistledown carpets, but there is a roof terrace for stargazing, a bath with a view and twin hammocks on the balcony for gazing up at spinning leaves. £ | DOG-FRIENDLY | Sleeps 2 Exeter may be within 40 minutes' drive, but city life feels magically far away when you gaze from the balcony of this small treehouse cabin just south of Exmoor. Overlooking 24 acres of woodland, it's perched on the edge of what was once a quarry. In the 200 years since they stopped extracting iron here, nature has reclaimed the land, turning the tumbling landscape below into a rainbow of dappled greens: a view best soaked up from the outdoor bath. One other important feature is the cabin's accessibility. Unlike many treehouses, this one is fully wheelchair-friendly; there's even a hoist for that outdoor bath. £££ | Sleeps 2 It's all about the thoughtful details at this simple A-framed treehouse, surrounded by two acres of private woodland. Featured on Channel 4's Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig, a barrel sauna, outdoor bath and cocktail trolley set a celebratory tone while the mezzanine bedroom's ceiling-to-floor window allows for easy leaf-peeping, or bird-watching, from bed. Home-made sloe gin and shortbread are provided, and breakfast hampers and BBQ boxes can be ordered in advance. Go wild swimming in the Wye, visit nearby Tintern Abbey or light the floating fire and snuggle into the green velvet sofa to gaze at the flames. ££ | Sleeps 2 The chic, minimalist Pinwheel is a treat for architecture lovers with a layout designed to mimic a child's pinwheel toy. It's in an area of outstanding natural beauty and one-way glass allows guests to appreciate wildlife up close without scaring animals off. The compact space ticks plenty of boxes, including shard-like floor-to-ceiling windows that give views onto the leafy surroundings while maintaining privacy, as well as a wood-fired pizza oven, a terrace with a swing and a hot tub. You can reach the Jurassic Coast in 25 minutes by car; and if you fancy a change from self-catering, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage is a 20-minute drive away. Additional reporting by Marianna Hunt, Yasmin Choudhury and Lucy Perrin • Best luxury glamping in the UK• Best romantic weekend breaks with a hot tub in the UK• Best campsites in the Cotswolds What's your favourite UK treehouse stay? Please share in the comments below
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The new device smaller than a grain of rice that could save thousands at risk of heart problems... and it can be installed without surgery
Roughly 1,000 NHS patients a week have a pacemaker implanted to steady their heart rate and protect them against potentially fatal abnormal rhythms. Since the first one was used in Sweden in 1958, the devices are thought to have saved tens of thousands of lives by reducing the risk of a cardiac arrest.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Vicky Pattison says 'doctors gaslit me' into thinking I wasn't ill as experts failed to diagnose her for five years despite suffering 'suicidal thoughts'
Vicky Pattison has revealed she has been 'gaslit by doctors' for years as medical experts failed to diagnose her with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. The TV personality, 37, has shed a light on misdiagnosis within the NHS for woman's health care as she revealed she was told by doctors that she wasn't ill at all despite experiencing 'suicidal thoughts' and several symptoms. Vicky revealed that she was 'repeatedly dismissed by her doctors' and only eventually was diagnosed properly after seeing a private doctor - which a lot of woman do not have the privilege of doing. The reality star, who presented Vicky Pattison Investigates: Medical Misogyny on Good Morning Britain on Monday, has now opened up about why the UK healthcare system is failing women, including herself. Speaking to The Sun, Vicky said: 'Women are so often the punching bags. At the moment, the healthcare system is telling women that their pain, suffering and debilitating conditions do not matter.' On GMB, shocking statistics have been revealed as three in five women have experienced reproductive health issues, yet a third have had to wait over a year for a diagnosis. The TV personality, 37, has shed a light on misdiagnosis within the NHS for woman's health care as she revealed she was told by doctors that she wasn't ill at all despite experiencing 'suicidal thoughts' Meanwhile, over half of them received a misdiagnosis, and 51 per cent said they had felt dismissed by a medical professional. And Vicky knows all too well as it took five years for her to be diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder after years of being told she was overreacting and suffering anxiety, depressive moods, rage and crippling cramps. However as her GP 'dismissed' her by saying she was just more 'sensitive' than the average woman, Vicky new something else was wrong. She said: 'When I hit my 30s, my period symptoms started becoming increasingly heightened. In some of my more intense and darker moments, I had suicidal thoughts. 'I knew what I was experiencing couldn't be right — it was just so debilitating. But for five years, I was repeatedly dismissed by my doctors.' She was advised by doctors that she needed 'antidepressants' as it was 'psychological' while another specialist telling the star to 'lose weight'. Vicky revealed that as she gets older 'it's gotten worse' and she is now 'anxious, emotional, exhausted and unrecognisable as herself' from around 10 days before her period. Eventually Vicky went to a private doctor three years ago, who told her she had 'PMDD' causing her to break down in tears after finally feeling relieved from a diagnosis. According to the Mind, 'Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) characterized by emotional and physical symptoms that significantly disrupt a person's daily life, particularly during the week or two before menstruation. 'It is a hormone-related mood disorder that can include symptoms like severe mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, and physical discomfort'. The former Geordie Shore star said diagnosis is just the first step and she is still on the quest to find treatment that works as it is 'uncontrollable'. Vicky credit the help of her husband Ercan Ramadan, 31, who she tied the knot with last year after seven years of dating, for understanding as it has previously 'put a huge strain' on their relationship. Vicky has now contacted Health Secretary Wes Streeting to deliver news of GMB's findings and wants to see education on women's health improve in schools, get GPs more informed and give greater support to women in the workplace. The TV star said she understands Mr Streeting is a 'busy man' but she believes that 'ignore me' is the same as ignoring all the woman suffering in Britain and that 'our quality of life doesn't matter'. It comes after Vicky shared a candid snap of her 'belly hanging out' as she revealed the reality of returning home from holiday after her getaway with Ercan. The couple jetted off on a lavish holiday to the Maldives where she shared a slew of stunning bikini snaps. However, Vicky also shared a more realistic behind the scenes look at her life as she posed in a slouchy T-shirt with her stomach out, wearing a £650 hair growth helmet. She captioned the post: 'Awwww home sweet home.... I absolutely LOVED our holiday... but how nice is getting home as well? To your comfy old clothes, your own bed and your favourite snacks? 'Just being able to let it all hang out while in your period pants with your belly hanging out like Winnie the Pooh in the comfort of your own home is a TOP feeling isn't it?!! 'Also, big shout out Mother Nature for giving my my period the day I travelled home... cheers lass!' The photo displayed quite the contrast between those shared by Vicky while on holiday, with the former I'm A Celeb winner sporting a glamorous look in a red bikini, which highlighted her stunning figure. But she had received backlash after posting the steamy snaps, with one fan taking to the comments section writing: 'God doesn't she love herself', with Vicky promptly hitting back: 'And what gave you that impression?! Or can you just not stand to see a confident woman?' She then shared two throwback snaps and revealed it has taken her years to get to the happy place she is at now and to 'finally feel comfortable in my own skin'. What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)? Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a more severe form of the more common premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMDD can cause severe physical and mental symptoms that begin seven to 10 days before menstruation and can continue for the first few days of a period, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Suffers can have depression (and even suicidal thoughts), anxiety or even anger during that period. People with PMDD may also struggle with fatigue and forgetfulness, along with headaches and difficulty sleeping. The disorder also includes more common symptoms shared with PMS, including bloating and cramps. PMDD may affect as many as 10 percent of people who have periods. No cure currently exists, but hormonal birth control and antidepressants have been found to help treat the condition, while over-the-counter pain relievers can help with some of the physical pain.
