A norovirus outbreak aboard a Holland America Line cruise ship sickened nearly 90 passengers and crew members during a late‑December sailing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency reported that 81 of the ship’s 2,593 passengers and eight of its 1,005 crew members experienced gastrointestinal illness marked by vomiting and diarrhea.

The outbreak occurred on the Rotterdam, which departed Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 28 and made stops in Curaçao, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and other ports before returning on Jan. 9.

Holland America said the cases were “mostly mild and quickly resolved,” but the cruise line implemented enhanced sanitation measures in accordance with CDC protocols. Crew members isolated sick passengers, increased cleaning and disinfection, and collected stool samples for testing.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program is monitoring the outbreak and reviewing the ship’s response procedures. Cruise ships are required to report gastrointestinal illness when cases exceed 2% of passengers or crew; this outbreak affected more than 3% of passengers.

Norovirus, a highly contagious virus that spreads easily in close quarters, is a frequent cause of gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships. Symptoms typically include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain, and can begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure.

This marks the first reported cruise‑related norovirus outbreak of the year and follows a series of similar incidents reported across the cruise industry in 2025.