Nearly 95 people sick in fourth Holland America cruise norovirus outbreak this year
- A Holland America cruise ship had nearly 100 reported cases of norovirus illness in a recent outbreak.
- This is the fourth norovirus outbreak on a Holland America ship this year.
- There have been 10 total gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships in 2025, most caused by norovirus.
Nearly 95 people got sick during a norovirus outbreak on a Holland America Line ship, the cruise line’s fourth this year.
Eighty-nine of the 2,670 guests aboard its Rotterdam ship reported being ill during a cruise that ended on Sunday, along with four crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their main symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea.
The Caribbean cruise departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 7, according to CruiseMapper.
"We initiated enhanced sanitation protocols in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to minimize further transmission, including a full disinfection of the ship upon its return to Fort Lauderdale," a Holland America spokesperson told Paste BN in an emailed statement. The cruise line also isolated sick guests and employees, among other steps, the CDC said.
The news follows three other norovirus outbreaks on Holland America ships this year, including another on Rotterdam last month.
There have been 10 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruises that met the health agency’s threshold for public notification so far in 2025. Most were caused by norovirus.
The illness is often associated with cruises, but those make up just 1% of all outbreaks reported.
Dr. Dean Winslow, a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Stanford Medicine, told Paste BN in January that outbreaks typically take place in congregate settings, particularly where people eat and drink. That includes 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 Paste BN based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.