A cruise ship arriving in Portland on Sunday has recorded the highest levels of norovirus this year for any ship where an outbreak was tracked by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Seventy-four of the Oceania Insignia’s 637 passengers, or 11.6%, have fallen sick with the norovirus during the cruise, according to the U.S. CDC, which considers anything above 3% to be an outbreak of the highly contagious disease. One of the 391 members of the crew also has fallen ill during the cruise.
The Oceania Insignia is on an 11-day cruise from Montreal to Boston, and is slated to stop in Portland on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the Oceania Cruises website.
Passengers who are symptomatic are required to be isolated in their rooms, according to the U.S. CDC, and the ship must be disinfected and cleaned.
Jessica Grondin, city of Portland spokesperson, said in a news release that city health officials discussed the outbreak with federal and state CDC health experts.
“City officials do not believe there is any reason for the public to be alarmed, and have received no indications that the ship should be prevented from docking,” she said.
The outbreak involving the Insignia is one of 20 viral outbreaks reported on cruise ships in 2025. In another high-profile outbreak this year, Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, sailing out of England, reported 266 of its 2,538 passengers, or 10.6%, were stricken with the norovirus, as well as 19 of its crew of 1,232.
Cruise ships reported 14 outbreaks in 2023, and 18 in 2024, according to the U.S. CDC.
Oceania Cruises said in a statement that the “health and safety of our guests is the number one priority” and that “all guests experiencing symptoms are being treated.”
Norovirus symptoms are primarily gastrointestinal, including vomiting and diarrhea, and typically last 1-3 days. It is extremely contagious and can be spread from surfaces, contaminated food and water, and utensils.
JoAnn Locktov, of the Portland Cruise Control grassroots group, said among the reforms proposed by their group to City Council is a public notification when a cruise ship is scheduled to dock with an outbreak among its passengers. People who are asymptomatic with the norovirus can spread the disease to people while in port.
While the city sent out a news release on Friday, there is no requirement that the public be notified, and Locktov said that should change.
“All we are asking is to give us the information so we can decide whether we want to go into the Old Port when the cruise ships are here,” she said.
Cruise ship visiting Portland on Sunday has norovirus outbreak
