Why is norovirus so common on cruise ships?

Cruise ships in particular have many of the conditions that make people susceptible to norovirus—close quarters, enclosed spaces, communal dining, and high turnover of passengers. “The virus is often associated with cruise travel simply because health officials are required to track illnesses on ships,” Shah said.



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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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There have already been an unlucky 13 recorded norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships under U.S. jurisdiction so far in 2023. That's the highest tally in 10-years, ever since 16 such outbreaks occurred in 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program.

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

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Studies have shown that quick application of hand sanitizers does not kill the norovirus. It takes about 30 seconds of hard rubbing with hot water and soap to kill it. The cause of most cruise line norovirus outbreaks is contaminated food or water. The way it spreads is through physical contact.

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Most recently, a norovirus outbreak in June on the Viking Neptune sickened 110 passengers (over 13% of the ship's guests) and nine crew members with vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, according to the CDC.

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They also collected stool samples from sick people and sent them to the CDC to attempt to identify the cause of the illness. A Princess Cruises' spokeswoman said the illness was likely due to a highly contagious norovirus, sometimes dubbed the “cruise ship virus,” reported CBS News. What do you think?

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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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Twenty-five crew members and 152 of the 2,144 passengers onboard the May 15 to May 25, 2023 voyage of the Celebrity Summit reported norovirus symptoms, according to a notice issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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The middle of the ship and not too high is your safest bet. A mid-ship stateroom with a balcony for quick access to fresh air may be ideal. If not available, consider a room that is either lower or closer to the back, as the front of the ship tends to experience the most movement.

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Code Red: Outbreak of norovirus or other illness. It means the ship must undergo deep cleaning and sick passengers should stay in their rooms. Code Green and Code Yellow indicate less severe problems.

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There isn't a cure for norovirus. Treatment for the infection focuses on relieving your symptoms, which will go away in one to three days. You can manage your symptoms by: Drinking plenty of liquids, especially liquids that contain electrolytes.

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Norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year but are most common from November to April. Most outbreaks occur when infected people spread the virus to others through direct contact, such as by caring for them or sharing food or eating utensils with them. Learn about common settings of norovirus outbreaks.

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