Another norovirus outbreak on Princess Cruises ship sickens dozens of passengers and crew
In February, another outbreak of norovirus hit passengers on the Coral Princess cruise ship, the second such incident this year for Princess Cruises, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sixty-nine passengers and 16 crew members fell ill during the outbreak, which occurred on a 16-night voyage from Los Angeles, California, through the Panama Canal. The total number of individuals on the ship at the time was 1,906 passengers and 895 crew members.
The cases reported during this recent outbreak were classified as “mild,” according to a spokesperson for Princess Cruises who spoke with CBS News via email. As soon as signs of illness were detected, the cruise line implemented enhanced sanitization protocols, including thorough disinfection, isolating affected guests, and providing health guidance to everyone on board.
It remains unclear whether those who developed symptoms did so simultaneously or at different points during the voyage. The Coral Princess departed Los Angeles on February 21 and returned to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 9. Following its arrival in Fort Lauderdale, the ship underwent thorough disinfection by crew members in preparation for its next journey, as stated by the spokesperson.
Princess Cruises informed the CDC that additional measures were taken by crew members to contain the spread of norovirus once it was identified on the Coral Princess. These measures included testing individuals displaying symptoms of the virus. Their response to the outbreak was guided by the CDC’s vessel sanitation program, which remotely monitored the situation and provided guidance to the cruise line.
Norovirus, commonly known as a stomach bug, is a highly contagious illness that typically manifests with symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. While symptoms usually last for one to three days, individuals can remain contagious and transmit the virus to others for two weeks or more after their symptoms have subsided, as per the CDC.
Norovirus outbreaks are frequently observed on cruise ships, in settings with communal living arrangements like jails and nursing homes, and in places such as schools where groups are in close proximity. The CDC reported a surge in cases of the illness across the U.S. toward the end of the previous year, with hundreds of cruise passengers contracting the virus on three different ships in December alone. These outbreaks affected ships from Princess Cruises and Holland America, with December 2024 seeing more norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships than any other month that year.
Princess Cruises experienced another norovirus outbreak on the Coral Princess in January 2025, with 128 passengers and 20 crew members developing the virus during that voyage. This incident marked the second outbreak on the ship in the span of a few months, highlighting the challenges faced by cruise lines in managing public health issues.
