Cruise ships rocked by norovirus outbreaks

Cruise vacations are a dream for many, but this December, hundreds of passengers and crew members faced an unexpected disruption—norovirus outbreaks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), five separate outbreaks struck cruise ships, leaving 781 passengers and 109 crew members sick with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Norovirus, known for its ability to spread rapidly in close quarters, caused three of the outbreaks. The origins of the other two remain unknown.

Why does norovirus spread so easily on cruises?
Cruise ships provide the perfect environment for the virus to thrive. The CDC highlights that crowded spaces, shared dining areas and communal surfaces help spread norovirus through contaminated food, water and contact with infected people.

Each year, the virus causes 19 to 21 million illnesses in the US, leading to over 100,000 hospitalizations. The outbreaks are common from November to April—right in the middle of the cruise season.

Record number of outbreaks in 2024
Last year, the CDC recorded 16 cruise outbreaks, the highest since 2012. A total of 1,894 passengers and 245 crew members have been affected.

Despite deep cleaning and enhanced health measures, illnesses persisted on back-to-back sailings.

Staying healthy at sea
Cruise lines have intensified sanitation, but passengers should wash their hands frequently and avoid shared utensils to reduce infection risk.