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Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Over 240 Aboard Queen Mary 2 Cruise

Enhanced health protocols have slowed the spread of the virus, with the ship set to return to Southampton on April 6.

File photo of the Queen Mary 2 sailing near the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor to meet the QE2 October 16, 2008 in New York.
The norovirus-stricken Queen Mary 2 is currently finishing up a transatlantic crossing. Pictured here, the ship docked at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal back in December 2021.
The Cunard line logo on the fleet flagship Queen Mary 2 as she lies off North Queensferry, near the Forth Bridge, on September 1, 2024 in North Queensferry, Scotland.
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Overview

  • The outbreak has affected 224 passengers and 17 crew members, representing 8.8% of passengers and 1.4% of crew aboard the Queen Mary 2.
  • The norovirus outbreak was reported to the CDC on March 18, prompting enhanced cleaning, disinfection, and isolation measures on the ship.
  • The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program is remotely monitoring the situation, confirming a decline in new cases due to Cunard Line's containment efforts.
  • The Queen Mary 2 is completing a 29-day transatlantic journey from Southampton to New York and the Caribbean, scheduled to return to the UK on April 6.
  • Norovirus, a highly contagious virus causing vomiting and diarrhea, has seen a rise in global cases, with 10 outbreaks reported on cruise ships in 2025 so far.