Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 115 on Cruise Ship – The New York Times

A norovirus outbreak aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship has sickened 115 people, including passengers and crew members, during a 14-day voyage through the Eastern Caribbean.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 102 of the 3,116 passengers on board reported falling ill with the highly contagious stomach virus. 13 of the 1,131 crew members on the vessel reported symptoms.

The outbreak occurred during a voyage that departed from Port Everglades on April 28, 2026. Those affected experienced symptoms typical of the infection, specifically vomiting, and diarrhea.

The illness was reported to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on May 7, 2026.

In a statement provided to the New York Post, Princess Cruises addressed the situation regarding the 948-foot-long vessel.

Princess Cruises can confirm that a limited number of individuals reported mild gastrointestinal illness during the April 28 Caribbean Princess voyage from Port Everglades

Princess Cruises

The cruise line reported that it responded by isolating sick passengers and crew members and increasing cleaning and disinfection measures throughout the ship to contain the spread of the virus. Crew members also collected stool samples from those experiencing symptoms for further testing.

The 22-year-old ship is scheduled to stop in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, on May 10, 2026, before returning to Florida. Upon arriving at Port Canaveral on May 11, 2026, the Caribbean Princess will undergo a comprehensive cleaning and disinfection process before it departs for its next voyage.

Understanding Norovirus in Maritime Environments

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is frequently associated with cruise ships due to the close proximity of passengers and the shared nature of dining and recreational facilities.

Despite the public perception of the virus being prevalent on cruises, the CDC notes that norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships account for only 1 percent of all reports of such outbreaks. The agency further stated that there are roughly 2,500 norovirus outbreaks occurring each year across the United States.

To manage these risks, the CDC maintains the Vessel Sanitation Program. This program was developed to assist the cruise industry in preventing and controlling outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses on ships through environmental assessments and outbreak investigations.

The containment strategy used on the Caribbean Princess—combining isolation of symptomatic individuals with aggressive disinfection—aligns with standard public health protocols for managing the vomiting virus in confined environments.