Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Nearly 120 Guests, Crew On Holland America Cruise Ship

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A norovirus outbreak on a Holland America Line cruise sickened nearly 120 people.

Among 2,614 guests aboard the line’s Rotterdam ship, 107 reported being ill during its current voyage, along with a dozen crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their main symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea.

Rotterdam departed on a 12-day Panama Canal cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Feb. 2, according to CruiseMapper.

A Holland America spokesperson said the "cases were mostly mild and quickly resolved."

"We initiated enhanced sanitation protocols in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to minimize further transmission, including continuous disinfection of the ship," the spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The cruise line also isolated sick guests and employees, among other steps, the CDC said.

The cases mark the seventh outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on cruises that has met the health agency’s threshold for public notification in 2025. There were 18 outbreaks last year – including on Rotterdam in December – most of which were caused by norovirus.

Outbreaks tend to happen more frequently in the winter when the weather is colder, according to the health agency. But while the illness is frequently associated with cruises, those account for just 1% of all outbreaks reported.

Dr. Dean Winslow, a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Stanford Medicine, told USA TODAY last month that outbreaks typically happen in congregate settings, especially where people are eating and drinking. Those include cruise ships, universities, nursing homes and “even hospitals,” he said.

This story was updated to add new information.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.