The third reported outbreak of gastrointestinal sickness aboard a cruise ship to date in 2025 – with the 12 months not but even three weeks outdated – is impacting Holland America Line’s Volendam on her present crusing.
The oldest ship in Holland America Line’s fleet, Volendam is within the midst of an intensive 21-night voyage that departed Miami, Florida on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
The ship has explored all through a lot of the japanese and southern Caribbean alongside the best way, together with San Juan, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, and extra.
In response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), sickness has struck a complete of 60 folks onboard the ship. Of the 1,369 visitors aboard, 53 (3.9%) have reported signs, whereas 7 of the 569 crew members (1.2%) have additionally reported the sickness.
To be clear, circumstances are reported as totals for all the voyage. Not all visitors or crew members could also be feeling sick concurrently. Moreover, since Volendam won’t arrive in Fort Lauderdale till Saturday, January 25, extra circumstances might but be reported for this outbreak.
The commonest signs being famous are vomiting and diarrhea, and testing has recognized norovirus because the trigger. Norovirus has been widespread in latest weeks on land as effectively, and is well unfold by means of contaminated surfaces.
To fight the contagion and cut back unfold, the crew aboard Volendam rapidly elevated cleansing and sanitation measures and remoted each visitors and crew members reporting signs. These are normal responses all cruise ships make the most of when such diseases are reported.
“We initiated enhanced sanitation protocols together with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) to attenuate additional transmission, together with steady disinfection of the ship,” a press release from Holland America Line to Cruise Hive learn.
The 61,241-gross-ton, Rotterdam-class Volendam can welcome 1,432 vacationers at double occupancy. She is providing a winter season of longer sailings, together with her upcoming 133-night Grand Voyage with a “pole to pole” itinerary that can depart Fort Lauderdale on January 25.
Outbreaks Seem to Be on the Rise
The outbreak aboard Volendam is the primary confirmed norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship in 2025. Two outbreaks earlier this month – one aboard Silversea Cruises’ Silver Ray and one other aboard Sea Cloud Cruises’ Sea Cloud Spirit – haven’t but been conclusively recognized.
Of 18 reported cruise ship outbreaks the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) investigated in 2024, 14 have been confirmed as norovirus.
This contains every outbreak reported aboard Holland America Line ships all year long: Koningsdam in February/March in addition to Zuiderdam, Rotterdam, and Eurodam, all in December.
In response to the CDC, the illness is usually delicate and usually resolves with out intensive remedy inside just some days.
The spokesperson from Holland America Line confirmed that the circumstances onboard Volendam “have been largely delicate and rapidly resolved.”
Whereas skilled cruise vacationers are conversant in the chance of norovirus or different gastrointestinal diseases aboard ships, the latest enhance of outbreaks may be regarding.
Norovirus is usually extra prevalent throughout the winter months. For the reason that starting of December, nonetheless, there have been seven norovirus outbreaks reported aboard cruise ships inside the CDC’s jurisdiction, in addition to not less than one outbreak from P&O Cruises within the UK.
For comparability, from the primary of December by means of mid-January in 2023-24, there was only one norovirus outbreak, aboard Movie star Cruises’ Movie star Constellation. Throughout the identical time interval in 2022-23, there have been three norovirus outbreaks, and from 2021-2022, there have been none.
Cruise vacationers can take easy steps to guard themselves from contracting diseases throughout their holidays. The simplest and handiest safety is frequent, thorough handwashing, particularly earlier than and after utilizing the restroom or eating. Minimizing touching shared surfaces – railings, elevator buttons, serving utensils, and so on. – may also be useful.
