224 Passengers & 17 Crew Members Affected By Norovirus Outbreak On Cruise Ship

A norovirus outbreak aboard Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 has affected 224 passengers and 17 crew members, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The ship, currently sailing a 29-day round trip from Southampton, England, to the Eastern Caribbean has 2,538 passengers and 1,232 crew members onboard.

The outbreak was first reported on March 18, 2025, when the cruise made a scheduled stop in New York, as per data from the tracking website Cruise Mapper.

Passengers and crew began experiencing vomiting and diarrhea, which are the most common symptoms of norovirus.

In response, the ship’s crew increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, isolated those who were sick, and collected stool samples for testing, according to the CDC.

A statement from Cunard mentioned that the ship had been deep cleaned and that affected individuals were being closely monitored.

The company also said that the situation was improving with a decline in reported cases, due to the swift response of the crew.

The Queen Mary 2 departed from Southampton on March 8, for a month long journey through the Caribbean, with the cruise scheduled to conclude on April 6.

After leaving England, the ship made stops in New York (March 15), St Maarten, St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts, and Tortola before heading back across the Atlantic.

The CDC noted that norovirus spreads quickly, especially in confined spaces like cruise ships, where passengers share dining areas and public facilities.

Norovirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus that spreads through contaminated food, drinks, surfaces, and direct contact with infected individuals. It is often called the “stomach flu” or “stomach bug”, though it is not related to influenza.

According to the CDC, norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for 19-21 million illnesses, 109,000 hospitalisations, and around 900 deaths annually.

In 2025 alone, there have already been 12 gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships. People infected with norovirus typically experience diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, fever, headaches, body aches, and dehydration.

Symptoms appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and usually last one to three days, but an infected person can still spread the virus for up to two weeks after recovery.

There is no specific antiviral treatment for norovirus, and recovery relies on hydration and symptom management.

The CDC recommends drinking fluids with electrolytes to prevent dehydration and practicing proper hygiene, including washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

The agency also advises ensuring fruits and vegetables are washed properly and that shellfish is cooked at an internal temperature of at least 145°F to prevent infection.

In 2013, an outbreak on the same ship affected over 200 people.

Other recent cases include a March 16 outbreak on Seabourn Encore, where 12 passengers and 22 crew members fell sick, and a Holland America cruise in February, where 89 passengers and four crew members were affected during a nine-day trip from Fort Lauderdale to the Southern Caribbean.

References: hindustantimes, abcnews

Source: Maritime Shipping News