Nearly 90 passengers and crew members fell ill with norovirus on a recent Holland America Line sailing aboard the Rotterdam, prompting an intensified sanitation effort and renewed scrutiny of gastrointestinal outbreaks in the cruise industry.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the incident, which occurred during a Dec. 28, 2025 to Jan. 9, 2026 voyage from Fort Lauderdale that visited several Caribbean and Central American ports.

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Outbreak Hits Panama Canal and Caribbean Itinerary

The outbreak occurred on a 13-day itinerary that departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 28 and returned on January 9.

The Rotterdam sailed a popular route that combined Caribbean stops with a Panama Canal transit, including calls in Curaçao, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Jamaica, according to sailing data tracked by cruise schedule services and confirmed by the CDC.

During the course of the voyage, 81 out of 2,593 passengers and eight out of 1,005 crew members reported symptoms consistent with acute gastrointestinal illness. That equates to roughly 3.1 percent of guests and 0.8 percent of crew on board.

The CDC later identified norovirus as the causative agent, making the incident one of the first publicly reported cruise ship norovirus outbreaks of 2026.

The Rotterdam, a Pinnacle-class vessel that entered service in 2021, is one of Holland America Line’s flagship ships and is homeported seasonally in South Florida for Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises.

The line markets the itinerary as a destination-focused, mid-size ship experience that offers a quieter alternative to the megaship environment, making the outbreak especially notable among loyal Holland America guests who value the brand’s reputation for classic, premium cruising.

How Many Were Sick and What Symptoms They Reported

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program listed the outbreak under voyage number RN251228 and published case counts after receiving mandatory reports from the ship. Passengers and crew who reported to the medical center described hallmark norovirus symptoms: sudden-onset diarrhea, vomiting and, in some instances, abdominal cramps and general malaise. The majority of cases were self-limited, with guests reportedly recovering within a relatively short period.

Norovirus is one of the most common causes of acute gastroenteritis worldwide and is known for its highly contagious nature. The virus can spread through close person-to-person contact, contaminated food or water, and surfaces that have been touched by someone who is infected. Enclosed, high-density environments such as cruise ships can create challenging conditions when a virus that spreads so easily is introduced, even when robust sanitation protocols are in place.

Despite the highly publicized case counts, health officials noted that the percentage of affected guests remained in the low single digits. Cruise ships are required to report when gastrointestinal illness exceeds a certain threshold, which is why outbreaks of this kind often receive more attention at sea than comparable clusters on land, where there is no equivalent central reporting system for travelers.

CDC Oversight and Onboard Containment Measures

The ship’s medical staff notified the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on January 8, one day before the end of the cruise, after surpassing outbreak reporting thresholds. Once the report was filed, the agency began remotely monitoring the situation and reviewing the Rotterdam’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures. Under U.S. regulations, cruise ships calling at U.S. ports must track and submit data on gastrointestinal illnesses, allowing health authorities to quickly detect patterns and advise on mitigation.

Holland America activated its outbreak prevention and response plan while the voyage was still underway. According to statements from the line and descriptions in the CDC summary, the ship’s crew increased cleaning and disinfection procedures in public spaces and cabins, paying particular attention to high-touch surfaces such as railings, elevator buttons and restroom doors. Housekeeping teams used disinfectants effective against norovirus and stepped up the frequency of cleaning rounds across the vessel.

Ill passengers and crew members were instructed to isolate in their cabins until at least 24 hours after their symptoms resolved, in line with typical cruise line and CDC guidance. Medical staff collected stool samples from affected individuals for laboratory testing, which later confirmed norovirus as the cause of the outbreak. Isolation and prompt reporting are considered key tools in limiting the spread of gastrointestinal illness at sea.

Holland America Line’s Response and Statement

In statements to multiple news outlets, Holland America Line emphasized that the cases on Rotterdam were “mostly mild and quickly resolved” and reiterated that the health of guests and crew is its top priority. The company said that, in addition to onboard containment efforts during the sailing, it carried out a comprehensive sanitization of the ship when it returned to Fort Lauderdale on January 9.

That turn-around sanitation included deep cleaning of staterooms, dining venues, lounges, corridors and crew areas, alongside targeted disinfection of bathrooms and high-traffic zones. Such post-outbreak protocols are designed to reduce the risk that any residual virus remains in the environment before new guests embark on the ship’s next cruise.

The cruise line also consulted directly with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program about ongoing sanitation and reporting procedures. Shipboard leadership and shoreside teams reviewed outbreak management steps taken during the voyage to ensure alignment with federal guidelines and industry best practices. Cruise health experts note that these reviews often lead to further refinements in staff training and passenger communication on future sailings.

Norovirus and Cruise Ships: A Persistent Travel Challenge

While norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships attract considerable public attention, health authorities routinely stress that cruise travel accounts for a small fraction of total norovirus cases each year. The virus circulates widely in communities, hospitals, schools and care facilities, and many passengers may already have been exposed before they set foot on a ship.

Onboard, cruise lines attempt to minimize transmission through a combination of design, hygiene measures and guest education. Buffet areas often have staff serving food rather than allowing self-service during heightened alert periods, with signs encouraging passengers to wash hands thoroughly before eating or after using restrooms. Hand-washing stations and sanitizer dispensers are usually positioned at dining entrances and gangways, although experts emphasize that soap and water remain more effective against norovirus than alcohol-based rubs alone.

Despite these measures, environmental health specialists say that cruise ships, like any crowded travel environment, can see rapid spread once a highly contagious pathogen is introduced. Shared dining rooms, entertainment venues and shore excursion buses bring passengers into frequent proximity. As a result, early reporting of symptoms and adherence to isolation instructions are critical parts of the defense against widespread outbreaks during a voyage.

Impact on Guests and the Broader Cruise Market

For affected guests, a norovirus outbreak can significantly alter the cruise experience, particularly on an itinerary as port-intensive as Rotterdam’s 13-day Panama Canal and Caribbean sailing. Passengers confined to cabins for illness and recovery may miss scheduled shore excursions or onboard events, and in some cases incur additional travel or medical costs, depending on their insurance coverage and the cruise line’s policies.

In the broader market, news of outbreaks can temporarily shake traveler confidence, especially among first-time cruisers or those with underlying health conditions who may already be cautious about infectious disease risks. However, industry analysts point out that demand for cruising has remained resilient, even amid periodic reports of gastrointestinal illnesses at sea, as repeat passengers weigh these risks against positive past experiences and the overall value of cruise vacations.

For lines like Holland America, which cater heavily to experienced cruisers and destination-focused itineraries, protecting a reputation for safety and reliability is essential. Transparent communication about health incidents, clear explanation of mitigation steps and flexible policies for guests affected by illness are increasingly seen as competitive factors in attracting and retaining travelers.

How the CDC Tracks and Reports Cruise Outbreaks

The Rotterdam incident was catalogued by the CDC under its Vessel Sanitation Program, which monitors gastrointestinal illness aboard cruise ships that carry 13 or more passengers and have international itineraries calling at U.S. ports. Cruise operators must submit a weekly report even when case numbers are low, and they are required to notify the CDC within 24 hours when illness counts reach or exceed specific thresholds.

When those thresholds are met, the CDC posts outbreak investigations on its public website, including the ship name, voyage dates, number of people sick, predominant symptoms and the suspected or confirmed cause of the illness. These summaries, while technical, provide one of the few transparent, centralized windows into onboard health incidents across the industry, allowing journalists, researchers and travelers to track trends over time.

In 2025, the agency recorded more than 20 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships that met public reporting criteria, the majority linked to norovirus. The Rotterdam case adds to this tally for the winter 2025 to 2026 cruise season and follows a previous norovirus incident involving the same ship in early 2025, when more than 160 passengers and crew fell ill on a separate sailing from Fort Lauderdale. Recurring outbreaks have prompted ongoing discussion about whether certain itineraries or seasonal patterns may be associated with elevated risk.

What Prospective Passengers Should Know Before Sailing

For travelers considering a cruise on Holland America or any other line, health experts generally recommend reviewing a few key points before booking and before boarding. First, travelers should be aware of the CDC’s guidance on cruise travel and gastrointestinal illness, including the importance of frequent hand washing with soap and water, especially before meals and after using the restroom.

Second, guests are encouraged to pay close attention to pre-boarding health questionnaires and to be candid about any recent symptoms. Passengers who have been ill in the days leading up to a cruise may be asked to delay travel, sometimes with options for rebooking or credits depending on the line’s policies. While missing a vacation is disappointing, embarking while symptomatic increases the risk of introducing norovirus or other pathogens into a contained shipboard environment.

Finally, travelers may wish to review their travel insurance coverage and the cruise line’s contract of carriage to understand what support is provided in the event of illness at sea, from medical consultations and medications to potential refunds or future cruise credits. Although most norovirus cases resolve without complications, having clarity about contingency plans can provide added peace of mind.

As the Rotterdam prepares for subsequent sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Holland America Line will be under pressure to demonstrate that its enhanced cleaning measures and health protocols are sufficient to prevent a repeat of the outbreak that affected nearly 90 people over the New Year period. For an industry that relies heavily on consumer trust, how the line manages the aftermath may be just as important as how it responded in the moment.