Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Norovirus,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on March 25, 2026
Nearly 200 passengers and crew members sick with norovirus on Princess Cruises’s Star Princess cruise ship began reporting symptoms about halfway through their voyage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Voyage Sanitation Program (VSP), the outbreak was reported on March 11, 2026.
This marks the second outbreak on an American docking cruise ship this year. The last one being the Seven Seas Mariner in late January, where an E. coli outbreak sickened at least 26 aboard the vessel.
Norovirus is listed as the “causative agent” in this outbreak. A common woe for cruise ships.
What exactly is norovirus and why are cruise ships almost synonymous with the illness? What should you do if you got sick?
But first, let’s talk details. Here’s what we know so far about the norovirus outbreak aboard the Princess Cruise Star Princess.
The Princess Cruise Star Princess was an eight-day Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Cruise.
The voyage began on Saturday March 7, 2026 when the ship departed from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The vessel arrived on Monday morning in Isla de Roatan, Honduras and left that night. Day excursions were planned on Tuesday in Belize City, Belize where the ship docked for the day.
However, before reaching Cozumel, Mexico, reports of an outbreak made it to VSP on March 11, 2026.
Finally, the ship returned to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida early Saturday morning, with some passengers leaving with unwanted souvenirs. Gastrointestinal symptoms, lost time on vacation, and maybe even an expensive medical bill for being treated in the ship’s medical center.
Norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses aboard a cruise ship have reporting rules. Management must notify VSP within a specific period of time and cooperate as needed with sanitation and response protocols.
VSP confirms that of the 4,307 passengers, 141 reported symptoms. Another 52 crew members were also sick with this viral illness.
Predominant symptoms included diarrhea and vomiting.
As with most norovirus outbreaks, there were likely additional passengers sick with mild illness who did not report their symptoms.
In response to the outbreak, crew aboard the Star Princess performed the following actions:
For their part, VSP conducted a field response for the environmental assessment and outbreak investigation to assist crew in controlling the outbreak.
Outbreaks on cruises, especially norovirus outbreaks, are pretty common.
But why?
According to VSP, in 2024, more than 20 million passengers embarked from North American ports on cruise vacations.
These cruises imply the promise of new environments and destinations, an all-in-one experience, and a literal buffet of included food. Conincidentally, a common source of foodborne illness.
But it also involves a high volume of people from different places.
Overall, exposure events commonly drawn from person-to-person contact, subsequent contamination of food or water, and confined spaces makes spreading contagious illnesses rather easy.
Norovirus is a highly contagious germ commonly spread through fecal-oral route. If that phrase doesn’t paint a picture for you, let me put it in simple terms.
It all comes down to poop. Albeit, trace amounts of poop in most cases. As few as 10 viral particles can make a person sick and continue spreading the illness. It is something that people don’t want to think about. Which is why it is often referred to as a “stomach bug” or “stomach flu. Despite the illness being an entirely different virus from the influenza. This is mostly due to the fact that it shares quite a few symptoms with the flu virus and many times a source cannot be identified.
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.
You are most contagious and likely to transmit your illness to others 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.
But how do you protect yourself from getting sick in the first place?
Cruising comes with its risks. However, an outbreak here and there is no reason to retire those boat shoes and make other travel plans. There are a few ways to protect yourself from being part of an outbreak like the norovirus outbreak on the Star Princess.
This golden rule should never be overlooked. Washing your hands is an important way to remove germs you may have picked up from any number of surfaces.
Always wash your hands before eating, or collecting food. Wash your hands after using the restroom, helping someone in the restroom, or changing a diaper. Certainly, any time you feel you have touched something dirty or may put your hands near or in your mouth is a good time to wash your hands.
Keeping your immune system strong and happy can also reduce your risk of getting norovirus or other gastrointestinal illnesses while cruising. Drink plenty of water to keep your system in good shape. Get plenty of rest. Lack of sleep may contribute to a reduced immune system. Making you more vulnerable if exposed.
This is another one of those travel situations where “if you see something, say something.”
If you see someone get sick with vomiting or diarrhea, leave the area immediately. You may be tempted to help, but you could also be exposing yourself to harmful germs. Let the experts do their job.
First, leave the area. Then, notify cruise staff if they are not already aware of a problem.
If you have been impacted by this outbreak of norovirus on Princess Cruise’s Star Princess, 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)