89 Norovirus Cases Reported Aboard Holland America’s ms Rotterdam – December 28, 2025 to January 9, 2026

Introduction
A gastrointestinal illness outbreak attributed to norovirus was recorded aboard Holland America Line’s ms Rotterdam during a late-December to early-January Caribbean voyage. U.S. health authorities confirmed that close to 90 passengers and crew reported symptoms over the course of the sailing.

Details of the Outbreak

Case Numbers:

• 81 passengers out of 2,593 (≈3.1%) reported illness.
• 8 crew members were also affected.
• The most commonly reported symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting.

Voyage and Itinerary:

• The affected sailing operated from December 28, 2025, to January 9, 2026.
• The cruise departed from Fort Lauderdale.
• Ports of call included:
  • Curaçao
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Jamaica
  • Additional Caribbean destinations

Response Measures:

• Holland America Line implemented CDC-aligned sanitation and containment protocols.
• Affected passengers and crew were isolated to limit further spread.
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures were carried out across public areas and cabins.
• Following the ship’s return to Fort Lauderdale, a thorough post-voyage sanitization of the vessel was completed.

Company Statement:

• HAL stated that the majority of reported cases were mild and resolved quickly.
• The cruise line reiterated that passenger and crew health remains a top priority.

CDC Context:

• CDC data show 23 cruise ship GI outbreaks met public-reporting criteria in 2025.
• Norovirus was identified in 17 of those outbreaks.
• By comparison:
  • 2024: 15 of 18 outbreaks linked to norovirus
  • 2023: 13 of 14 outbreaks linked to norovirus
• The data underscore norovirus’ continued prevalence in cruise-ship environments.