What sickness is going around on cruise ships?

Norovirus ? marked by diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain ? is to blame for more than 90 percent of diarrheal disease outbreaks on cruises, according to the CDC.



The most common illness associated with cruise ships in 2026 remains Norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Because cruise ships are "closed environments" where thousands of people share dining areas and facilities, the virus can spread quickly if an infected person boards. In early 2026, several outbreaks have been reported, including on major lines departing from Florida. While the cruise industry uses incredibly high-grade medical sanitation protocols, the "stomach bug" remains a persistent challenge. To stay healthy, the CDC and cruise lines emphasize frequent handwashing with soap and water, as hand sanitizer is less effective against Norovirus than it is against respiratory viruses like COVID-19 or the common flu.

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The CDC's tally of norovirus outbreaks so far confirmed on cruise ships in 2023 is already higher than any annual outbreak tallies since 2012, when the health agency recorded 16 outbreaks.

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More than 90% of cruise ship gastro outbreaks are caused by norovirus, which is spread from person to person, and through contaminated objects or contaminated food or water. Gastro can also be caused by other pathogens such as bacteria in contaminated food or water.

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Respiratory Illnesses. Respiratory illnesses are the most common medical complaint on cruise ships.

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You can get norovirus from an infected person, from contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed (acute gastroenteritis). This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up.

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2023 American Splendor Legionnaires' Disease Hotel General Manager Jay Hasan notified American Splendor passengers of water test results that were positive for Legionella on September 18, 2023, the second-to-last day of a week-long cruise, according to the USA Today report.

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Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships surge after years of decline. Halfway through the year, there are already more confirmed outbreaks in 2023 than there have been since 2012. Data for 2023 is through the end of June. Other years capture the total number of outbreaks for the full calendar year.

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“Landsickness” or “reverse seasickness” is familiar to many people who have taken long cruises — once the body has become accustomed to constant motion, the vestibular system, which controls balance, usually takes a few hours or days to acclimate to being on land again.

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If you get diarrhea, drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. In serious cases of travelers' diarrhea, oral rehydration solution—available online or in pharmacies in developing countries—can be used for fluid replacements.

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Top 3 Tips on How to Avoid Norovirus on a Cruise Ship
  1. Wash Your Hands Frequently. The most important thing that you can do to avoid Norovirus on a cruise ship is to wash and sanitize your hands as frequently as possible! ...
  2. Make Sure Food is Protected. ...
  3. Keep Your Immune System Strong.


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“It's just really the perfect scenario for transmission of highly contagious GI [gastrointestinal] pathogens,” Lucar says. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the risk each year of getting laboratory-confirmed norovirus during a ship outbreak is about 1 in 5,500.

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After motion sickness begins, it usually doesn't start getting better until you stop moving. But, most people who are on a boat for a long trip feel better a few days into the trip when they get used to being on the boat, but some people feel seasick for several days.

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Food poisoning. Or maybe it's norovirus, a contagious virus that often keeps you at the toilet for several days. Some people know it as the ?cruise ship virus? because it's often the cause of over 90% of diarrhea outbreaks on cruise ships, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Environments Where Norovirus Spreads Quickly “The CDC estimates only about 1% of annual U.S. norovirus cases happen on cruise ships. Rates are much higher in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and restaurants, which collectively account for about 91% of cases.”

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In conclusion, I want to reassure you that the majority of people taking a cruise rarely, if ever, get seasick and by taking the steps above you should be able to enjoy your cruise in good health.

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Legionella previously found on American Cruise Lines vessels The agency found evidence of Legionella in the potable water systems of its American Star and American Heritage vessels following periodic inspections between December 2021 and and August 2022.

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