A New Year’s cruise turned unpleasant fast for dozens of travelers after a gastrointestinal illness spread aboard a Holland America ship sailing the Caribbean.
The ship, Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, departed Fort Lauderdale on December 28, carrying nearly 2,600 passengers on what was supposed to be a festive southern Caribbean getaway. Instead, health officials say at least 81 passengers and eight crew members became sick during the voyage.
According to officials, the outbreak was linked to symptoms consistent with norovirus, often nicknamed the “winter vomiting disease.” Those affected reportedly experienced vomiting and diarrhea, prompting swift action from the ship’s crew.
As cases mounted, sick passengers were isolated and the vessel underwent what officials described as a comprehensive sanitization. Crew members also collected stool samples for testing as part of standard outbreak protocols. It was later revealed this marked the second gastrointestinal outbreak reported on the Rotterdam within the past 11 months.
Despite the alarming numbers, officials emphasized that most cases were mild and that passengers recovered quickly.
“The health of our guests and crew is a top priority,” a Holland America Line spokesperson said in a statement. “Consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols, we conducted a comprehensive sanitization of the ship when the cruise ended Friday in Fort Lauderdale.”
While cruise-related illness outbreaks remain relatively rare, norovirus continues to be one of the most common causes of stomach illness at sea, particularly during the winter travel season.
Bad beans