A norovirus outbreak on a Holland America Line ship sickened 60 people.
Among 1,369 guests on its Volendam ship, 53 reported being ill during its current voyage along with seven crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their main symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting.
The ship departed on a cruise from Miami on Jan. 4 with scheduled stops in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Barbados and more, according to CruiseMapper.
A spokesperson for the cruise line said the cases “were mostly mild and quickly resolved.”
“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,” the spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The cruise line also isolated sick passengers and crew, among other steps, the CDC said.
The cases mark the fourth norovirus outbreak on Holland America ships since early December, following others on its Eurodam, Rotterdam and Zuiderdam vessels. Other companies, including Cunard Line and Princess Cruises also saw outbreaks in recent weeks.
The CDC has logged three outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruises that met its threshold for public notification so far this year. Those follow a total of 18 in 2024, most of which were caused by norovirus. Outbreaks tend to be more common in winter months when the weather is cooler, the health agency said.
Dr. Dean Winslow, a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Stanford Medicine, told USA TODAY earlier this month that outbreaks tend to take place in congregate settings, particularly where people are eating and drinking. Those include cruise ships, along with universities, nursing homes and “even hospitals,” he said.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
In the latest outbreak of norovirus on a Holland America cruise ship, 60 passengers have fallen ill since early December. This is the fourth reported outbreak of the highly contagious stomach bug on a Holland America vessel in recent weeks, raising concerns about the cruise line’s handling of the situation.
Norovirus outbreaks are not uncommon on cruise ships, but the frequency of incidents on Holland America ships has raised alarm among passengers and health officials alike. The cruise line has come under scrutiny for its response to the outbreaks, with some critics accusing them of not taking adequate measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Passengers on affected cruises have reported experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, leading to a less-than-pleasant vacation experience. Holland America has stated that they are taking steps to sanitize the ship and prevent further spread of the virus, but some passengers remain skeptical of the cruise line’s efforts.
With the busy holiday season approaching, it is more important than ever for cruise lines to take proactive measures to protect their passengers from illness. Hopefully, Holland America will take this latest outbreak as a learning opportunity and make necessary improvements to prevent future incidents.
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