Passengers aboard Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam have been struck by a norovirus outbreak during a 10-night Caribbean sailing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed.
The outbreak was first reported to the CDC on 11th December 2024, while the ship was docked in Aruba.
As of the latest reports, the CDC has recorded 74 passengers of the 1,923 onboard as being ill, as well as four of the ship’s 757 crew members, experiencing symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, headache, and fever.
This accounts for less than 4% of the vessel’s guests.
The 82,305-gross-ton ship departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on 4th December and returned to Florida on 14th December after completing its itinerary, which included stops at Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Amber Cove, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Aruba.
Norovirus, described by the CDC as “the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhoea, and foodborne illness in the United States,” is highly contagious.
In response to the outbreak, the cruise line implemented its outbreak prevention and response plan, which includes isolating affected individuals and increasing cleaning and disinfection measures.
“We initiated enhanced sanitation protocols in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to minimize further transmission.”
Holland America spokesperson
The outbreak also delayed the Zuiderdam’s next sailing, a 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise scheduled to depart on 14th December.
Passengers were informed of the delay, as additional sanitisation measures were performed between voyages to prevent further spread of the virus.
How norovirus spreads and prevention tips
Although highly contagious, the CDC reports only 12 norovirus outbreaks on US-based cruise ships in 2024, indicating that most voyages remain unaffected by the illness.
This, however, is not the first such incident for Holland America Line in 2024. Earlier in the year, Koningsdam experienced a similar outbreak affecting 98 passengers and 12 crew members on a Hawaiian and French Polynesian sailing.
Cruise ships are particularly susceptible to norovirus due to close living quarters and shared dining spaces.
The CDC advises passengers to wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, clean and disinfect surfaces, ensure proper food preparation, and wash laundry with hot water to help prevent the spread of the virus.
Norovirus can continue to be contagious for up to two weeks after symptoms subside, which is why thorough cleaning measures between cruises are critical.
Other cruise lines have also dealt with recurring outbreaks this year, including P&O Cruises’ Ventura, which saw several instances of illness affecting hundreds of passengers across multiple voyages.
Passengers embarking on future sailings are encouraged to take precautions to protect themselves and others while onboard.
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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