Image by Jan Simon from Pixabay
Recent announcement of a norovirus outbreak on Rotterdam cruise marks the first cruise ship outbreak of the year, says The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Voyage Sanitation Program (VSP).
Is this an ominous start to the year?
How common are norovirus outbreaks on cruises and why are they associated with these vessels?
What is norovirus and how do you protect yourself while cruising?
Follow along as we dive into gastrointestinal outbreaks aboard cruise ships and what to do if you get sick.
The norovirus outbreak on Rotterdam cruise, announced on January 8, 2026, marks the first gastrointestinal outbreak aboard a cruise vessel this year. The last being the Celebrity Eclipse reported on December 28, 2025.
The Holland America Line ship Rotterdam, assigned voyage number: RN251228, departed for a 13-day trip from Port Everglades, Florida on December 28, 2025. The itinerary included ports of call in Curacao, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, and Jamaica before returning on January 9, 2026.
Just one day before docking back on US soil, a norovirus outbreak was reported.
At least 85 passengers of the 2,593 on board reported being ill during their trip. Nine crew members also reported illness.
Symptoms predominantly involved vomiting and diarrhea. Norovirus was identified as the “causative agent.”
In response to the norovirus outbreak on Rotterdam Cruise, Holland America Line and crew performed key response actions.
They increased cleaning and disinfection procedures as noted in their outbreak prevention and response plan. Stool specimens were collected from passengers and crew with gastrointestinal illness symptoms. Sick passengers and crew members were isolated to reduce additional spread and VSP was consulted.
According to reports, “VSP remotely monitored the situation, including review of the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.”
If you follow the Make Food Safe blog, you have likely heard about a norovirus outbreak or two (the actual number is probably closer to 100 or more). Of the 22 outbreaks aboard U.S. docking cruise vessels in 2025, 16 confirmed norovirus as the causative source.
Some were “probable” norovirus outbreaks, without definitive proof.
Does having the first outbreak so early in 2026 mean we may have a busy year?
Not necessarily. The first outbreak in 2025 was on Sea Cloud Cruises Sea Cloud Spirit, reported on January 9, 2025. None of the 120 passengers fell sick. However, nearly a third (28 of 93) crew members came down with what was presumed to be ciguartera based on symptoms and other factors.
Symptoms included diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and myalgia.
The first norovirus outbreak of 2025, however fell on another Holland America Line Vessel.
The norovirus outbreak on Rotterdam cruise was not the first. Nor will it be the last.
In fact, there is a long history of connections between norovirus and cruise ships.
But why?
The answer comes down to a few factors. Proximity and opportunity.
Cruise ships are essentially a closed system. You have a large group of people contained to a common area. You are traveling with them from anywhere between a few days to even months.
Plus, there are loads of opportunities to pick up germs. Even more synonymous with cruise ships than norovirus, is buffets.
Buffets are some of the main attractions for some cruisers. Most are included in your fare, and people take advantage of them.
Why not get your money’s worth?
But with all those hands, at least a few may be unwashed or improperly washed.
That is how it spreads!
Norovirus is a gastrointestinal virus. A germ commonly spread through fecal-oral route.
A bit of imagination can help you connect the dots on that method of spreading illness.
But if you don’t want to read between the lines, I will say it out loud.
It all comes down to poop. Trace amounts of poop in most cases. But poop, nonetheless.
As few as 10 viral particles can make a person sick and continue spreading the illness. That is not really much when it comes to being contagious.
Have you become sick while on your recent Rotterdam cruise?
You may have norovirus!
Common symptoms of norovirus infection include:
There is no medical treatment protocol for norovirus. Antibiotics are not effective against this type of infection, so your best course of action is to hydrate and rest until symptoms subside. Seek medical attention if symptoms become severe or you become dehydrated.
Norovirus is highly contagious and can become a major problem if you do not stay on top of it.
If you have norovirus, you should concentrate on getting better, staying hydrated, and avoid spreading the illness to others.
You are most contagious while you are feeling sick through the first few days of feeling better. So be careful when you are sick to reduce the risk of spreading the illness to others.
Always wash your hands after using the restroom or helping others in the restroom. Wash your hands before you prepare food or eat. Always wash your hands any time you think that you may have contaminated them or touched something that might be contaminated. All good rules of thumb, even without the threat of spreading norovirus.
The bathroom is a common place where you can spread your norovirus germs. Be sure to clean up after yourself after bathroom activities. If you vomit or otherwise make a mess, clean the area with disinfectants.
Always report your gastrointestinal illness. Even if your symptoms may be mild. Others may not be so lucky. Reporting your illness can help alert health authorities of a potential problem. Which can lead to discovering the source more quickly and preventing others from becoming sick.
If you have been impacted by this norovirus outbreak on Rotterdam, or another cruise ship outbreak and want to file a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a norovirus lawyer that can help!
Foodborne illness is inconvenient, disruptive to your personal and professional life, and in some cases serious or life-threatening. Most of the time foodborne illness is completely preventable. Lapses in food safety or sanitation protocols result in consumers becoming sick.
Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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