A significant rise in norovirus cases has disrupted cruise ship voyages this year, with outbreaks reaching their highest point in the past ten years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports thirteen norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships in 2023 so far, exceeding all annual totals since 2012, and the year is only half over.
This contrasts sharply with the mere four outbreaks reported in 2022, which impacted 235 passengers and crew members. The recent surge has affected nearly 1,700 passengers and over 240 crew members across thirteen different cruise lines docking in the U.S.
Norovirus, commonly known as the "stomach bug," leads to gastrointestinal inflammation, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. The CDC defines an outbreak as 2% or more of passengers and crew reporting gastrointestinal illness to the ship's medical staff. Reporting is mandatory within 15 days of arrival at a U.S. port, for ships with over 100 passengers and voyages lasting 3-21 days.
The largest recent incident involved over 100 passengers (13.1% of travelers) on the Viking Neptune, with Viking Cruises suggesting a shoreside restaurant in Iceland as the likely source.
Other affected cruise lines include Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and P&O Cruises. The Cruise Lines International Association emphasizes that the higher reported numbers reflect prompt reporting to health authorities, not necessarily a greater incidence rate on board.
The CDC recommends preventive measures such as handwashing, disinfecting surfaces with bleach, safe food handling, and hot water laundry to curb the spread of this highly contagious virus.
