Nearly 90 passengers and crew members have fallen ill with norovirus on a Holland America cruise ship, marking the eighth gastrointestinal illness outbreak on cruises to meet the CDC’s public notification threshold this year.
At a Glance
- Holland America Line’s Eurodam cruise reported 79 passengers and 9 crew members infected with norovirus
- The ship departed from Fort Lauderdale on February 19 for a 10-day Caribbean voyage
- This is the eighth cruise ship gastrointestinal outbreak this year and the third on a Holland America vessel
- Enhanced sanitation protocols were implemented in collaboration with the CDC
- Norovirus cases across the U.S. have more than doubled compared to last year
Outbreak Strikes Caribbean Voyage
The Holland America Line’s Eurodam cruise ship has become the latest vessel to report a significant norovirus outbreak, with 79 passengers and 9 crew members falling ill during a Caribbean journey. The ship, carrying 2,057 passengers and 834 crew members, departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on February 19 for what was supposed to be a carefree 10-day Caribbean cruise with scheduled stops including Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic, and Aruba.
Holland America has confirmed the outbreak but attempted to downplay concerns, stating that the “cases were mostly mild and quickly resolved.”
The cruise line further explained its response to the situation, noting, “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.”
This outbreak represents part of a troubling pattern within the cruise industry this season.
We’ve had so many stories about this lately…
It marks the eighth gastrointestinal illness outbreak on cruises to meet the CDC’s public notification threshold so far this year. More concerning for Holland America specifically, this is the third norovirus outbreak on their cruise ships, suggesting possible issues with their sanitation protocols or passenger screening procedures.
The timing aligns with a nationwide surge in norovirus cases, with infection levels more than double compared to last year. Health experts note that the winter months typically see higher rates of norovirus transmission, particularly in environments where large groups gather in close quarters. The Vessel Sanitation Program, which monitors illness outbreaks on cruise ships, has been particularly active this season investigating multiple incidents across different cruise lines.
This marks the second Holland America Line ship affected by norovirus in February alone. Earlier this month, the Rotterdam experienced a similar outbreak, highlighting the challenges cruise companies face in maintaining sanitary conditions during peak virus season. Other cruise ships, including the Coral Princess and Viking Mars, have also reported significant outbreaks affecting hundreds of passengers and crew members in recent weeks.
If you’re going on vacation, it might be time to reconsider cruises…at least for now.
