The seventh cruise ship outbreak of 2025 has been reported aboard Holland America Line’s (HAL) Rotterdam during its February 2 to 14 sailing.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 107 out of 2,614 guests (4.1%) and 12 out of 969 crew members (1.2%) reported gastrointestinal illness by February 7. The CDC has identified norovirus as the cause.
The affected individuals experienced diarrhea and vomiting, common symptoms of norovirus. It’s important to note that the reported number includes all cases from the entire sailing, not people who were sick at the same time.
As the outbreak unfolded, Rotterdam continued its itinerary, visiting Half Moon Cay, Cartagena, Colon, and Puerto Limon, before heading to Montego Bay. The ship is scheduled to return to Fort Lauderdale on February 14.
Holland America’s Response
Holland America quickly implemented sanitation measures to prevent further spread. In a statement to USA Today, a HAL spokesperson said: “We initiated enhanced sanitation protocols in conjunction with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to minimize further transmission, including continuous disinfection of the ship.”
The cruise line has also:
- Increased cleaning and disinfection efforts
- Quarantined affected passengers and crew
- Collected stool specimens for testing
- Cooperated with the CDC to monitor and contain infections
A Rise in Cruise Outbreaks
This incident marks the seventh CDC-reported outbreak in 2025, a 57% increase compared to three outbreaks during the same period in 2024.
So far this year, four norovirus outbreaks have been reported on:
- Coral Princess (Princess Cruises)
- Viking Mars (Viking Ocean Cruises)
- Volendam (Holland America Line)
- Rotterdam (Holland America Line)
Other recent outbreaks involving different pathogens have affected guests aboard Radiance of the Seas (Royal Caribbean), Silver Ray (Silversea Cruises), and Sea Cloud Spirit (Sea Cloud Cruises).
While norovirus outbreaks have been known to happen in the cruise industry, the rise in cases this early in the year raises concerns about sanitation practices, passenger awareness, and prevention measures.
As always, travelers should follow good hygiene habits, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding shared utensils, to reduce their risk of illness while cruising.
