A norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship has left around 115 passengers and crew members ill, as health officials and cruise operators race to contain the highly contagious stomach virus, Cape {town} Etc reports.
As reported by NBC NEWS, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak affected 102 passengers and 13 crew members on Thursday, during a Caribbean voyage that departed from Fort Lauderdale in late April.
The ship, carrying more than 3 000 passengers and over 1 000 crew members, was reportedly sailing through the Caribbean when cases of gastrointestinal illness began emerging onboard. The most commonly reported symptoms included vomiting and diarrhoea, both of which are hallmark signs of norovirus infection.
‘Princess Cruises can confirm that a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the 28 April Caribbean Princess Voyage from Port Everglades,’ the vessel said in a statement on Friday
Cruise line ramps up sanitation measures
Princess Cruises has since implemented enhanced cleaning and isolation measures in an attempt to contain the outbreak.
According to reports, affected passengers and crew were isolated while additional sanitation protocols were rolled out across the vessel. Stool samples were also collected for testing.
In a statement carried by Cruise Radio, the cruise line said: ‘We quickly disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitising throughout the voyage.’
The vessel is expected to undergo ‘comprehensive cleaning and disinfection before departing for her next voyage’ once it returns to port in Florida.
What is norovirus
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes acute gastroenteritis and spreads rapidly in enclosed environments such as schools, hospitals and cruise ships, the CDC reported.
The virus can spread through contaminated food, surfaces or close person-to-person contact, making cruise liners particularly vulnerable to outbreaks.
Health authorities say symptoms typically include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Fever and body aches in some cases
While most people recover within a few days, the virus can pose a greater risk to elderly passengers and vulnerable individuals due to dehydration complications.
Another outbreak for the cruise industry
The incident marks yet another high-profile illness outbreak aboard a cruise ship this year.
According to CDC-linked reporting, this is one of several gastrointestinal outbreaks recorded on cruise liners in 2026, including another Princess Cruises vessel earlier this year.
It also follows shortly after the rare and much more dangerous hantavirus outbreak, which led to the deaths of three passengers aboard a 150-passenger cruise ship travelling to Cape Verde.
The latest outbreak has once again placed a spotlight on the challenges of containing fast-spreading viruses in densely populated travel settings, particularly as international cruise tourism continues to rebound.
Despite the outbreak, the Caribbean Princess reportedly continued its scheduled itinerary while onboard containment efforts remained in place. The vessel is expected to arrive in Florida on Monday, 11 May.
Also read:
Picture: @josephlunieOFF / X
