Norovirus outbreak on Princess cruise affects more than 120 passengers – National
More than 120 passengers and crew became ill during a norovirus outbreak on the Ruby Princess cruise ship, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC said 102 passengers and 23 crew members reported being sick during the Ruby Princess voyage, which ran from June 12 to July 2 from San Francisco to Canada and Alaska.
In response to the outbreak, Princess Cruises and the crew on board reported increased cleaning and disinfection procedures in line with its prevention and response plan, the agency said.
The Sanitation Program (VSP), which helps the cruise ship industry to prevent and control the introduction and spread of gastroenteritis on ships, was consulted on sanitation procedures and reporting of cases of illness.
VSP is remotely monitoring the situation, including reviewing the vessel’s response and evacuation procedures, according to the CDC.
Norovirus is highly contagious and thrives in close quarters, making cruise ships vulnerable to outbreaks. There have been three outbreaks of norovirus on cruise ships so far this year, the CDC reports.
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According to the CDC, norovirus can be contracted from an infected person, contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines, leading to abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
There were seven outbreaks reported on cruise ships in the CDC area in 2026.
In June, 19 passengers and one crew member reported falling ill during a norovirus outbreak on Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Sea Bird on a trip from June 25 to June 30.
In late May, the same ship reported an outbreak of norovirus on May 28 with nine passengers and three crew members affected by the illness.
In April, more than 100 passengers and crew members became ill during a norovirus outbreak on the Caribbean Princess cruise ship, according to the CDC.
The CDC said 102 passengers and 13 crew members reported being sick on the trip, which took place from April 28 to May 11.
“Princess Cruises can confirm that a limited number of people reported stomach ailments during the April 28 Caribbean Princess sailing from Port Everglades,” Princess Cruises previously said in a statement to Global News.
“Our crew responded quickly by implementing improved sanitation procedures throughout the ship, and cases have since decreased and remain low,” the cruise line added. “Caribbean Princess arrived at Port Canaveral on the morning of May 11, as scheduled, and will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before departing this afternoon on her next voyage, as scheduled.”
The Caribbean Princess outbreak comes more than a month after a norovirus outbreak was reported on the Star Princess cruise ship.
In March, the CDC reported that 141 passengers and 52 crew members reported being sick with norovirus on board the Star Princess. The cruise departed from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and made stops in the Caribbean, Honduras, Belize and the Mexican Riviera.
In April 2025, 240 people fell ill on Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 following a norovirus outbreak.
The CDC said in an outbreak report that 224 of the ship’s 2,538 passengers were infected with the virus, along with 17 additional crew members.
The ship left Southampton in the UK on March 8, 2025, and sailed for about a month to New York and on to the Caribbean, making various island stops. It was due to return to Southampton on April 6, 2025.
According to the CDC, passengers experienced vomiting and diarrhea during the outbreak. The health center said Cunard had increased cleaning and disinfection measures and that sick passengers and staff were being quarantined.
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