Norovirus Outbreak Strikes Over 240 Passengers on Luxury Cruise Liner

A norovirus outbreak has affected more than 240 individuals aboard the prestigious Queen Mary 2 cruise ship

Norovirus Outbreak Strikes Over 240 Passengers on Luxury Cruise Liner

A norovirus outbreak has affected more than 240 individuals aboard the prestigious Queen Mary 2 cruise ship, leading to widespread cases of the highly infectious gastrointestinal illness.

According to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak surfaced as the Cunard-operated vessel approached the conclusion of its four-week round-trip voyage from the United Kingdom to the Caribbean.

Renowned for its transatlantic crossings, the Queen Mary 2 is designed to evoke the grandeur of classic ocean liners. The ship is operated by Cunard, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation.

The cruise commenced on March 8 from Southampton and is scheduled to return to the same port on April 6. As per CDC statistics, 224 out of the 2,538 passengers onboard have contracted the virus, along with 17 of the 1,232 crew members.

Dubbed 'The Cruise Ship Virus'

Infectious disease specialist Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, previously told that norovirus is “known obviously as the cruise ship virus.”

Due to its extreme contagiousness, norovirus spreads more readily among individuals in confined environments, such as cruise ships. The CDC also highlights that the virus is commonly transmitted in other enclosed spaces like dormitories, hotels, and camps.

“This is a virus that can infect you with very few viral particles. In other words, the infectious dose is very small,” said Schaffner. “It can persist for days or even a week on environmental surfaces, which means that if you put your fingers on a contaminated surface, you can pick up a few viral particles, touch your mouth and then initiate an infection.”

Passengers on the Queen Mary 2 primarily experienced symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Following confirmation of the outbreak, the CDC reported that Cunard Line ramped up sanitation efforts, increased disinfection measures, and quarantined affected passengers. Additionally, stool samples from infected individuals are being examined for further analysis.

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), responsible for monitoring disease outbreaks on ships, has stated that it is “remotely monitoring the situation, including review of the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.” The VSP also confirmed that Cunard Line has been in consultation regarding appropriate cleaning measures and illness reporting protocols.

Cunard, in a statement, assured that the company is “continuing to closely monitor” affected passengers. The cruise operator also emphasized the implementation of a “comprehensive deep clean of the ship” and noted that its swift response to the outbreak has led to a “reduction in reported cases.”

Increase in Cruise Ship Illnesses?

This outbreak follows what was recorded as the worst year for gastrointestinal outbreaks aboard cruise ships in over a decade, according to CDC data. The majority of reported outbreaks in 2024 were linked to norovirus.

In 2024, the CDC documented 16 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships, marking the highest number in more than ten years. By comparison, 2023 saw 14 such incidents.

A CDC spokesperson noted that “while 2023 and 2024 both had higher numbers of cruise ship outbreaks than in years prior to the pandemic, we do not yet know if this represents a new trend.”

From 2020 to 2022, reports of such outbreaks were lower due to the temporary halt and gradual resumption of the cruise industry following the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, 2019 saw a total of 10 outbreaks, as per CDC records.

The CDC only monitors ships within its jurisdiction, which means the vessel must visit a US port, have an international itinerary, and carry at least 13 passengers. While this criterion covers a significant portion of the global cruise fleet, some vessels operating outside these parameters are not included in the CDC's data.

In a statement, the Cruise Lines International Association emphasized that “incidents of illness onboard cruise ships are extremely rare.”

The CDC has noted that “outbreaks are found and reported more quickly on a cruise ship than on land” due to mandatory reporting procedures. In the US, approximately 19-21 million cases of norovirus occur annually, according to CDC estimates.

So far in 2025, the CDC has recorded 11 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships, including the recent Queen Mary 2 outbreak. Among these, nine were attributed to norovirus.

Preventing Infection While Traveling

Passengers experiencing symptoms of a stomach virus are urged to minimize the risk of spreading infection by “promptly reporting their illness if they are sick and following medical staff recommendations,” as advised by a CDC spokesperson earlier this year.

Travelers are also encouraged to adopt hygiene practices such as “washing their hands often, especially after using the toilet and before eating or drinking.”

Cruise operators take extensive measures to curb outbreaks, as demonstrated by Queen Mary 2’s proactive response. Strategies include isolating symptomatic individuals and intensifying sanitation procedures onboard.

However, due to the highly infectious nature of norovirus, Schaffner pointed out that “it is likely to go beyond all those barriers and interventions that have been put in place” by cruise lines.

For those considering a cruise, Schaffner recommended: “number one, if you’re feeling at all ill, stay home, rebook for a later cruise.

“Number two, pay meticulous attention to all the hygienic instructions that you are given on the cruise ship, and pay particular attention to hand hygiene. And in this circumstance, soap and water is actually better than using the sanitary hand wipes or lotions that we use, because norovirus is not very affected by the alcohol that’s in the hand wipes and the lotions.”