More than 100 fall sick in norovirus outbreak aboard 133-day world cruise

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) said 95 of the ship’s 2,007 passengers and six of its 640 crew members "reported being ill" during the voyage, which began in mid-November and is scheduled to sail across multiple continents until March 2026, according to Cruise Mapper.

Norovirus, notorious for spreading rapidly in closed environments like cruise ships, hospitals and schools, has been identified as the culprit. It typically transmits through contaminated food or water, shared utensils, or surfaces touched by infected individuals.

Health officials note that even microscopic amounts of the virus can trigger an outbreak, especially on long, densely populated voyages where travelers mingle in dining halls, theaters and shared recreation spaces.

AIDA Cruises, the German cruise line that operates the ship, says it has isolated symptomatic guests and crew, ramped up disinfection protocols and collected stool samples to confirm the pathogen and monitor its spread, Mothership reported. The CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program is remotely reviewing the ship’s outbreak response, including its cleaning methods, case reporting and onboard medical procedures.

The AIDAdiva is currently in the early stretch of its 133-day world itinerary, a sweeping route that includes planned stops in the U.S., England, Mexico, Japan, South Africa and several other countries. Passengers have been advised to wash their hands frequently, rest, stay hydrated and report any symptoms immediately to the ship’s medical center.