The cruise ship outbreak season this year is getting off to a fast, vomit-soaked start. Two separate outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness that have affected over 100 people each have been reported this month—the sixth and seventh such outbreaks to have occurred aboard cruise ships that visit U.S. ports since January.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detailed the outbreaks via its Vessel Sanitation Program. In the most recent outbreak, reported Monday afternoon, at least 104 passengers and 12 crew members aboard Holland America’s Rotterdam have gotten sick during the two-week cruise, which began on February 2 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is expected to land this Friday. As is often the case, the outbreak has been traced back to norovirus.
Cruise ships are a notorious environment for foodborne outbreaks, thanks to the close living conditions and shared dining common to them. But 2025 is already looking to be an especially bad year for cruise vacations, gastrointestinal-wise. This latest outbreak is the seventh reported to the CDC this year and the second in February, well above the typical pace of recent years. For context, there were only two outbreaks reported through early February in 2024 and three in 2023 (there were a total of 18 reported outbreaks in 2024 and 14 outbreaks in 2023).
Over the weekend, the CDC also reported an outbreak aboard Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas, which ultimately affected at least 160 passengers and eight crew members before the ship landed on February 8. The cause of the Radiance outbreak is unknown for now, but a smart bettor would put their money on norovirus. More than 90% of diarrheal disease outbreaks on ships are caused by norovirus, which can spread easily and quickly through contaminated food and water; close enough contact with infected people; or even from touching surfaces contaminated with invisible specks of an infected person’s poop or vomit.
Norovirus is often referred to as the “cruise ship virus,” but it’s a common problem virtually everywhere. Less than 1% of all norovirus cases in the U.S. are tied to cruise ships, according to the CDC. Norovirus in general has been surging as of late, with a higher number of outbreaks in the U.S. reported since last summer than the tally reported in recent seasons.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the odds of getting sick from norovirus or any gastrointestinal illness aboard a cruise ship are “quite rare.” Still, given the unusual glut of outbreaks reported so far in 2025, a cruise ship vacation will personally remain low on my ideal vacation list. Should you disagree, then the CDC’s advice to you while cruising is to make sure to regularly wash your hands, leave any area where people appear to be visibly sick with a gastrointestinal illness, and report these potential cases to ship staff if they’re not already aware.
This Year’s Cruise Ship Season Is Off to a Vomit-Soaked Start
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