120+ people sick in Holland America, Oceania cruise gastrointestinal outbreaks
More than 120 people got sick in gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on Holland America Line and Oceania Cruises ships.
Among 2,139 passengers sailing aboard Holland America’s Eurodam, 86 reported being ill during its current cruise, along with eight crew members, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Their main symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea caused by norovirus.
The ship left Florida’s Port Everglades on Dec. 30, according to CruiseMapper.
A Holland America spokesperson said the “cases were mostly mild” and resolved quickly. “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,” they told Paste BN in an emailed statement.
On Oceania Nautica, 15 of 639 guests reported illness in addition to 16 crew, per the CDC. Their predominant symptoms were also diarrhea and vomiting, but the causative agent was listed as unknown.
Nautica departed from Miami on Dec. 23, according to CruiseMapper.
“The health and safety of our guests, crew and the destinations we visit is our top priority,” an Oceania spokesperson told Paste BN in an emailed statement. “We operate at the highest public health and sanitation standards and encourage our guests to practice good hygiene and to report any illness-related symptoms to the onboard medical team immediately.”
The cruise line also implemented heightened sanitation protocols “as part of our routine measures to ensure a safe environment for all on board and will continue to take any necessary measures to protect our guests, crew and destinations we visit,” the spokesperson added.
Both ships’ cruises are scheduled to end on Wednesday.
The news follows a string of norovirus outbreaks on cruises in recent weeks, including on Holland America, Cunard Line and Princess Cruises vessels.
The CDC logged 18 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships that met its threshold for public notification in 2024. Norovirus was listed as the causative agent in 14 of those.
Norovirus outbreaks are typically more common in the cooler winter months – though it may be less seasonal in locations closer to the equator. The illness is frequently associated with cruises, but those account for only 1% of all outbreaks reported, according to the health agency.
Dr. Dean Winslow, a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Stanford Medicine, told Paste BN earlier this month that outbreaks tend to happen in congregate settings, especially where people are eating and drinking. That includes cruise ships, as well as universities, nursing homes and “even hospitals,” he said.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for Paste BN based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.