Over 100 Passengers and Crew Members Fall Ill with Norovirus During 133-Day World Cruise

More than 100 people, including both passengers and crew members, have fallen ill due to a norovirus outbreak aboard the AIDA Cruises' AIDAdiva ship, currently on a 133-day world cruise. The outbreak, which has impacted at least 95 passengers and six crew members, was reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The cruise, which departs from Hamburg, Germany, includes stops across various countries including the United States, England, Mexico, Japan, and South Africa. The ship embarked on its journey on November 10, and the outbreak was identified on November 30 after the ship had docked in Boston, New York, Miami, and Charleston, South Carolina.

According to the CDC's report, of the 2,007 passengers aboard, 95 experienced symptoms during the voyage, alongside six crew members out of the 640 aboard. The most common symptoms reported were diarrhea and vomiting, which are consistent with the effects of norovirus.

In response to the outbreak, the crew followed strict guidelines from the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program, which included isolating the sick passengers and crew, enhancing cleaning procedures, and taking stool samples from those affected to aid in further testing. These measures were aimed at preventing the virus from spreading further.

At the time of the report, AIDA Cruises had not yet provided a comment. The current world cruise is set to run through to March 23, 2026, with its final destination being Hamburg, where it will conclude its journey. Meanwhile, the cruise line has already announced plans for their next world cruise aboard the AIDAsol ship, scheduled from October 18, 2026, to February 21, 2027.

The CDC has reported 21 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships since the beginning of 2025. The agency emphasizes that cruise ships are obligated to report any gastrointestinal illness that occurs during their voyages.