Norovirus Hits Holland America’s Rotterdam Cruise Ship
A brutal norovirus outbreak has struck the Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, infecting 89 people on board. The ship, carrying 2,593 passengers and 1,005 crew, was midway through a Fort Lauderdale cruise with stops in Curacao, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Jamaica when 81 passengers and 8 staff fell violently ill with classic norovirus symptoms: explosive vomiting and diarrhea.
The illness surfaced between December 28 and January 9, with the cruise line alerting the CDC on January 8. Sanitation efforts onboard quickly ramped up to contain the outbreak.
Winter Norovirus Surge Hits US Hard
This outbreak is part of a nationwide norovirus spike sweeping the US this winter. CDC data revealed 12% of tests in late December were positive for norovirus, up from 10% earlier that month.
But the official stats barely scratch the surface — experts say more than 20 million Americans catch norovirus yearly, with nearly 2 million needing medical help. The CDC tracks around 2,500 outbreaks annually, each defined as two or more linked cases.
Symptoms So Severe They Can Break Your Ribs
Norovirus hits hard and fast. Victims suffer rapid nausea, brutal vomiting, and severe diarrhea so ferocious it can crack or break ribs. Dehydration is a serious risk, leading to complications like seizures, heart problems, and fainting.
Forget just using hand sanitiser — washing hands properly remains the best defence against this relentless bug.
Holland America Acts Fast to Clean Up
A Holland America spokesperson said: “During its previous voyage, a number of guests onboard Rotterdam reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness. The cases were mostly mild and quickly resolved.”
“The health of our guests and crew is a top priority. In line with CDC protocols, we conducted comprehensive sanitisation of the ship after the cruise ended in Fort Lauderdale.”
With winter norovirus surging, travellers should beware — this nasty bug can turn your dream cruise into a nightmare at sea.
