Norovirus Affects Nearly 90 Aboard Holland America Cruise

A norovirus outbreak was recorded on a Holland America Line cruise ship during a recent Caribbean sailing, impacting close to 90 passengers and crew members, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The incident occurred onboard the Rotterdam during a 13-day Panama Canal and Caribbean itinerary that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 28 and concluded on January 9. A total of 81 passengers out of 2,593, slightly more than 3 percent, reported illness, along with eight of the ship’s 1,005 crew members.

Holland America Line notified the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on January 8, one day before the cruise ended. Those affected mainly experienced gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea.

Following the report, the cruise line activated its outbreak prevention and response protocols. Measures included intensified cleaning and disinfection procedures, isolation of passengers and crew showing symptoms, and the collection of stool samples for laboratory analysis. Testing later confirmed norovirus as the cause of the outbreak.

The ship’s medical team also coordinated closely with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program to review sanitation practices and implement additional reporting and control measures to help prevent further spread.

Norovirus is a frequent cause of acute gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships. The CDC defines gastrointestinal illness as three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period, vomiting, or vomiting accompanied by symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, headaches, or muscle aches.