Over 150 cruise guests and crew sick after norovirus outbreak

More than 150 passengers and crew aboard Princess Cruises’ Star Princess ship were reported sick this week in what health officials have confirmed was an outbreak of norovirus.

The outbreak occurred during a seven‑night cruise that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 7 and was scheduled to return to Port Everglades on Saturday.

Of the 4,307 passengers on the cruise, 104 reported falling ill during the current voyage, along with 49 crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Most experienced vomiting and diarrhea.

Princess Cruises said in a statement to USA Today that sanitation teams had “disinfected every area of the ship and added extra sanitizing throughout the voyage,” and that individuals feeling unwell were kept separate so they could “rest comfortably in private.”

The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program is also conducting an environmental assessment and outbreak investigation to assist in controlling the situation as the Star Princess continues its scheduled itinerary back to Florida, the CDC said.

The Independent has contacted Princess Cruises for comment.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes stomach flu–like symptoms and is often linked to foodborne illness. It spreads especially easily in places where people are in close quarters, which makes cruise ships a common setting for outbreaks.

The virus is so contagious because it only takes a tiny amount to make someone sick. Infected people shed massive numbers of virus particles in their stool and vomit, which can then be picked up by others. Norovirus primarily spreads through the fecal-oral route, meaning virus particles from one person can be ingested by another.

The CDC has already reported two gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships this year that met the threshold for public notification.

By comparison, there were 23 cruise ship outbreaks in 2025, with 17 linked to norovirus, and norovirus was responsible for 15 of the 18 total outbreaks in 2024.

Although norovirus is commonly associated with cruise ships, such outbreaks account for only about 1 percent of all reported norovirus outbreaks nationwide, the CDC says.

While it’s impossible to eliminate the risk of norovirus, people can significantly lower their chances of getting sick by washing hands thoroughly and often, especially before meals, avoiding shared food, drinks, or utensils, limiting contact with communal surfaces and steering clear of areas where someone has vomited.

Anyone showing symptoms of gastroenteritis on a cruise should alert medical staff immediately and follow their instructions. Passengers may be asked to remain in their cabins temporarily to prevent the virus from spreading to others, the CDC says.