After Hantavirus outbreak, over 100 fall sick after new deadly virus spreads on Caribbean Princess cruise, what exactly happened?

A norovirus outbreak has affected more than 100 passengers and crew members aboard the cruise ship Caribbean Princess during a 13-night Southern Caribbean voyage, according to a report by NBC News citing the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The incident comes shortly after another cruise ship reported a separate hantavirus outbreak that reportedly led to nearly 150 infections and three deaths.

Illness reported during ongoing voyage

The Caribbean Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on April 28 with 3116 passengers and 1131 crew members on board.

The outbreak was reported to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on May 7, after the number of cases crossed the 3% threshold required for official notification.

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Number of cases and symptoms

A total of 102 passengers and 13 crew members reported illness, bringing the total to 115 cases.

The affected individuals experienced symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea, which are consistent with norovirus infection. However, the CDC clarified that not all cases occurred at the same time and many passengers have already recovered.

Cruise itinerary and response

The ship’s itinerary included stops at multiple destinations such as the Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Nassau. It is scheduled to arrive at Port Canaveral on May 11.

The cruise operator said the illnesses were mild and spread throughout the voyage rather than in a single outbreak wave. The company added that enhanced cleaning and sanitisation measures were carried out immediately.

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Before its next journey, the ship will undergo full cleaning and disinfection.

Passenger experience on board

Despite the outbreak, passengers reported that daily activities continued normally.

One passenger said the onboard atmosphere remained unaffected, with shows and meals continuing as planned. He also noted that the cruise line informed travellers on time and handled the situation professionally with necessary precautions in place.

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What is Norovirus?

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes acute gastroenteritis. Common symptoms include sudden vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, fever and body aches. The illness usually lasts 1 to 3 days and most people recover without medical treatment.

It spreads easily in crowded environments like cruise ships through contaminated food, water, surfaces and close contact. High-touch areas such as railings, elevator buttons and buffet utensils can also contribute to its rapid spread.