Overview

• A newly dominant norovirus strain is fueling a rise in gastrointestinal outbreaks on cruise ships, mirroring increased cases on land.
• So far in 2025, the CDC has recorded 16 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships, with 12 confirmed as norovirus.
• The number of outbreaks in 2025 is on track to surpass the 18 reported in 2024, the highest in over a decade.
• The CDC highlights challenges in controlling the virus on ships, including its resistance to disinfectants and persistence on surfaces for weeks.
• Cruise lines under the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program have intensified cleaning, isolation, and hygiene protocols to combat the spread.