A norovirus outbreak sickened more than 80 people aboard Carnival’s Princess Cruises ship Coral Princess during a 16-night voyage that docked in Fort Lauderdale on March 9, 2025, marking the latest in a troubling wave of gastrointestinal illnesses plaguing cruise ships in 2025.
The outbreak, reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 7, affected 69 of the 1,906 passengers and 13 of the 895 crew members, with diarrhea and vomiting as the predominant symptoms.
The Coral Princess departed Los Angeles on Feb. 21, sailing through Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Aruba before reaching its final destination. The CDC identified norovirus — a highly contagious virus notorious for spreading through contaminated food, water and surfaces — as the causative agent. In response, Princess Cruises ramped up cleaning protocols, isolated ill individuals, and collected stool samples for testing, according to a CDC Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) report.
This incident is the second norovirus outbreak on the Coral Princess this year. In January, 148 people — 128 passengers and 20 crew — fell ill during a voyage from Jan. 20 to Feb. 5, with symptoms mirroring those of the recent outbreak. The recurrence underscores the challenges cruise lines face in controlling the hardy virus, which can persist on surfaces for days and resists many common disinfectants.
A rough start to 2025 for cruise ships
The Coral Princess outbreak is part of a broader surge in gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships this year. As of March 12, the CDC has documented nine outbreaks meeting Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) reporting criteria — voyages with 3 percent or more of passengers or crew reporting symptoms — since Jan. 1. This marks a significant rise compared to the three outbreaks reported during the same period in 2024 on ships like Celebrity Constellation, Queen Victoria and Holland America Line’s Koningsdam.
Several ships have been notably affected in 2025. Holland America Line’s Eurodam saw illness strike during its Feb. 19-March 1 voyage, with the CDC confirming norovirus as the cause. Holland America’s Rotterdam faced a similar outbreak from Feb. 2-14, while Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas reported cases from Feb. 1-8, though the causative agent is still unidentified pending test results.
Other incidents include Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Mars, Holland America’s Volendam, and Silversea Cruises’ Silver Ray, where norovirus drove most cases except for Silver Ray, which involved E. coli. A distinct outbreak on Sea Cloud Cruises’ Sea Cloud Spirit from Jan. 4-10 impacted only crew, with ciguatera poisoning presumed due to contaminated fish.
Statistics from 2025 outbreaks:
- Eurodam: 162 of 2,057 passengers (7.9 percent) and 17 of 834 crew (2 percent) reported ill.
- Rotterdam: 166 of 2,614 passengers (6.4 percent) and 19 of 969 crew (2 percent) fell sick.
- Radiance of the Seas: 160 of 2,164 passengers (7.4 percent) and 8 of 910 crew (0.9 percent) were affected.
- Viking Mars: 62 of 887 passengers (7.2 percent) and 9 of 465 crew (1.94 percent) reported symptoms.
- Volendam: 93 of 1,369 passengers (6.8 percent) and 11 of 569 crew (1.93 percent) became ill.
- Silver Ray: 51 of 681 passengers (7.5 percent) and 5 of 532 crew (0.9 percent) were sick.
- Sea Cloud Spirit: 28 of 93 crew (30.1 percent) reported ill, with no passengers affected.
The nine outbreaks in just over two months indicate a concerning trend, outpacing 2024, which recorded 16-18 total outbreaks—the highest in over a decade, according to CDC data. Norovirus remains the primary driver, historically accounting for over 90 percent of cruise-related gastrointestinal cases, though its increased prevalence on land provides additional context for this uptick.
Norovirus on the rise nationwide
The increase in norovirus cases on cruise ships reflects a broader spike across the United States. The CDC’s NoroSTAT network, which monitors outbreaks in 14 states including North Carolina, Michigan, Oregon, and New Mexico, recorded 1,078 outbreaks from Aug. 1, 2024, to Jan. 15, 2025 — nearly twice the 557 reported during the same period the previous year. Data shows the 2024–2025 seasonal year is exceeding averages from 2012-2020 and 2021-2024, with 91 outbreaks reported in the week of Dec. 5 alone.
The CDC estimates norovirus leads to 19 million to 21 million illnesses and about 2,500 outbreaks annually in the United States, with cases typically peaking between November and April.
The rise in cruise ship outbreaks may be tied to this nationwide surge, worsened by the close quarters and frequent passenger changes on vessels. Norovirus spreads easily in confined environments. This makes cruise ships particularly vulnerable to rapid transmission.
Staying safe on the high seas
For passengers planning a cruise, the recent wave of outbreaks highlights the importance of taking steps to reduce norovirus risk. The CDC and health experts recommend several proactive measures:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the restroom, or after touching high-contact surfaces like railings. Hand sanitizer is less effective against norovirus, so mechanical scrubbing with soap is preferred when possible.
- Avoid contaminated food and water by ensuring shellfish is cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F and produce is thoroughly washed.
- Report any illness to the ship’s medical staff immediately to enable early detection and limit the spread of the virus.
- Stay vigilant even though cruise lines like Princess and Holland America isolate sick individuals and increase sanitation during outbreaks.
- Postpone travel if feeling unwell before boarding to avoid spreading illness to others, as rebooking is a safer option than risking infection.
- Check a cruise line’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) inspection scores online through the CDC website for insights into their sanitation practices.
These steps can help passengers minimize their risk and enjoy a safer cruise experience.
Looking ahead
With over two weeks left in the first quarter, 2025 is already a standout year for cruise ship outbreaks. For now, passengers and crew aboard the Coral Princess — and beyond — face a stark reminder: food safety matters, even at sea.
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