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Outbreak Updates for International Cruise Ships

    Cruise ships participating in the Vessel Sanitation Program are required to report the total number of gastrointestinal illness (GI) cases (including zero cases) evaluated by the medical staff before the ship arrives at a U.S. port, when sailing from a foreign port. A separate notification is required when the GI illness count exceeds 2% of the total number of passengers or crew onboard. The data below were obtained from these surveillance reports and from CDC-led investigations. The GI cases reported are totals for the entire voyage and do not represent the number of active (symptomatic) GI cases at any given port of call or at disembarkation.

    The following links provide additional resource information about gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on land and at sea.
  • Norovirus Activity --- United States, 2006--2007
  • Molecular and Epidemiologic Trends of Caliciviruses Associated with Outbreaks of Acute Gastroentertis in the United States, 2000-2004
  • Are Noroviruses Emerging?
  • Norovirus Activity --- United States, 2002
  • Food-Related Illness and Death in the United States
  • Cruise ship outbreak updates are posted when they include the following criteria:
    • fall within the purview of VSP (see about VSP),
    • are sailing on voyages from 3-21 days,
    • are carrying 100 or more passengers, and
    • are cruise ships in which 3% or more of passengers or crew reported symptoms of diarrheal disease to the ships medical staff during the voyage, and
    • are gastrointestinal illness outbreaks of public health significance.

  • CDC has not verified all of the case numbers represented in the following updates.
  • Year
    2009  2003 1998
    2008      2002      1997  
    2007 2001 1996
    2006 2000 1995
    2005 1999 1994
    2004    


  • 2009
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Mercury 1/3-1/17 Pending
     

    2008

    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Holland America Line Zuiderdam 10/23-11/09 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess 10/19-10/26 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Jewel 10/8-10/18 Norovirus
    American Canadian Cruise Line Grande Caribe 9/30-10/12 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Jewel 9/28-10/8 Norovirus
    Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Mariner 8/27-9/3 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Veendam 6/13-6/20 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Dream 4/13-5/1 Norovirus and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
    Holland America Line Zaandam 3/19 -4/3 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Ryndam 2/15-2/25 Norovirus
    Carnival Cruise Line Holiday 1/24-1/28 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian Star 1/19-1/27 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Noordam 1/5-1/16 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Volendam 1/2-1/12 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Pacific Princess 12/15-1/10 Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)

  • 2007
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Princess Cruises Emerald Princess 12/16-12/26 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Pearl 11/30-12/9 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Zaandam 11/5-11/20 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Dawn 10/14-10/26 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Crown 8/12-8/19 Norovirus
    Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Spirit 6/13-6/20 Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Liberty of the Seas 5/26-6/2 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Star 5/19-5/26 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Pearl 4/13-4/22 Specimens not obtained
    Holland America Line Volendam 4/12-4/22 Specimens not obtained
    Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Navigator 4/5-4/16 Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Zenith 4/2-4/13 Norovirus
    Majestic America Line Empress of the North 3/16-3/21 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Regal Princess 3/13-3/25 Unknown
    Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Mariner 2/25-3/9 Shigella, Salmonella, Enterobacter, and Entameoba histolytica
    Holland America Ryndam 3/3-3/13 Norovirus
    2/21-3/3 Norovirus
    1/22-2/21 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Westerdam 2/2-2/11 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Island Princess 1/26-2/10 Norovirus
    Cruise West Spirit of Nantucket 1/27-2/3 Unknown
    Holland America Line Volendam 1/22-2/1 Specimens not obtained
    Cunard Line Queen Elizabeth 2 1/8-1/22 Norovirus

    2006
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Princess Cruises Regal Princess 12/7-12/27 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Sun Princess 11/30-12/10 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Wind 11/29-12/9 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Zaandam 11/26-12/11 Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Freedom of the Seas 11/26-12/3/06 Norovirus
    12/3-12/10, No sail recommendation Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Serenade of the Seas 11/18-11/25 Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Summit 11/11-11/25 Unknown, negative for norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Adventure of the Seas 11/5-11/12 Norovirus
    Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Liberty 11/3-11/19 Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Serenade of the Seas 10/29-11/11 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Island Princess 10/21-11/5 Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Constellation 10/27-11/7 and Investigation Report Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Constellation 10/16-10/27/06 Norovirus
    Princess Cruise Line Diamond Princess 9/2-9/9 Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Radiance of the Seas 9/2-9/9 Unknown, negative for norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Mariner of the Seas 7/23-7/30 and Investigation Report Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Infinity 7/9-7/16 Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Mercury 6/2-6/9 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Ryndam 5/28-6/4 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Ryndam 5/14-5/21 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Star 5/14-5/21 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Sun 5/13-5/20 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Veendam 4/22 - 5/9 Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Explorer of the Seas 4/23-4/30 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Island Princess 3/7-3/22 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Amsterdam 3/7-3/22 Norovirus
    3/22-4/6 Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Mercury 3/6-3/17 Norovirus
    3/17-3/27 and Investigation Report Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Grandeur of the Seas 3/6-3/11 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Volendam 3/3-3/13 Norovirus
    Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Mariner 2/28-3/13 Unknown
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Explorer of the Seas 2/26-3/5 and Investigation Report Norovirus
    Cunard Line Queen Mary 2 2/8-2/22 Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
    P & O Cruises Minerva II 1/12-1/26 Unknown
    Holland America Line Zuiderdam 12/30/05-1/7/06 and Investigation Report Norovirus
  • 2005
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Splendour of the Seas 11/12-11/26 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Sun Princess 5/9-5/16 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Dawn Princess 4/29-5/14 Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Horizon 4/23-4/30 Unknown
    Crystal Cruises Crystal Symphony 4/14-4/25 Unknown
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Crown 3/13-3/28 Unknown
    Princess Cruises Royal Princess 3/7-3/24 Unknown
    Holland America Line Veendam 3/5-3/12 Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Zenith 2/27-3/13 Norovirus
    Carnival Cruise Line Celebration 2/21-2/26 Norovirus
    2/17-2/21 Norovirus
    Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Mariner 2/12-2/24 Salmonella
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Empress of the Seas 1/17-1/28 Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Mariner of the Seas 1/16-1/23 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Ryndam 1/13-1/29 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Sun Princess 1/8-1/18 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Veendam 1/3-1/15 Norovirus
    1/15-1/29 Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Enchantment of the Seas 1/3-1/8 Norovirus

  • 2004
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Princess Cruises Coral Princess 12/28-1/07 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Golden Princess 12/12-12/19 Norovirus
    SilverSea Cruise Line Silver Shadow 12/4-12/14 Specimens not obrained
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Dream 12/5-12/12 Norovirus
    Institute for Shipboard Education M/V Explorer 6/19-12/8 Unknown
    Holland America Line Veendam 9/26-10/14 Unknown
    Princess Cruises Regal Princess 9/11-9/20 Unknown
    Princess Cruises Sun Princess 9/13-9/20 Unknown
    9/6-9/13 Norovirus
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper 9/3-8/11 Specimens not obtained
    SilverSeas Cruise Line Silver Shadow 7/26-8/6 Unknown
    Princess Cruises Pacific Princess 7/25-8/17 Unknown
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Serenade of the Seas 6/6-6/13 Unknown
    Princess Cruises Island Princess 6/5-6/12 Unknown
    5/29-6/5 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Crown 5/2-5/9 Norovirus
    4/17-5/2 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Veendam 4/17-5/2 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Wind 4/17-5/2 Specimens not obtained
    Holland America Line Rotterdam 4/2-4/15 Unknown
    Holland America Line Amsterdam 3/31-4/17 Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
    Celebrity Cruises Zenith 3/28-4/11 Norovirus
    Celebrity Cruises Horizon 3/22-4/2 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Crown 3/22-4/4 Norovirus
    3/7-3/22 Unknown, negative for norovirus
    Princess Cruises Royal Princess 3/8-3/25 Unknown, negative for norovirus
    Cunard Line Queen Mary 2 2/23-3/6 Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Brilliance of the Seas 2/16-2/27 Norovirus
    Cunard Line Queen Elizabeth 2 2/17-3/1 Unknown
    ResidenSea Cruise Line The World 2/3-2/24 Specimens not obtained
    P & O Cruises Oriana 2/20-3/5 Norovirus
    Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Celebration 2/9-2/14 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Ryndam 2/7-2/14 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Coral Princess 1/12-1/22 Norovirus
    Cunard Line Queen Elizabeth 2 1/5-1/19 Specimens not obtained
    Windjammer Barefoot Cruises Legacy 1/4-1/10 Specimens not obtained

  • 2003
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Windjammer Barefoot Cruises Legacy 12/27-1/3/2004 Specimens not obtained
    Holland America Line Volendam 12/21-12/28 Norovirus
    Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Legend 11/21-11/29 Norovirus
    11/13-11/21 Norovirus
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper 10/4-10/11 Specimens not obtained
    Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Holiday 10/16-10/20 Norovirus
    10/11-10/16 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Star 9/21-9/28 Specimens not obtained
    Clipper Cruise Line Clipper Odyssey 8/15-8/26 Specimens not obtained
    Princess Cruises Regal Princess 8/18-9/2 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Star Princess 8/2-8/9 Norovirus
    7/26-8/2 Norovirus
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Rhapsody of the Seas 7/20-7/27 Specimens not obtained
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Sky 5/17-5/24 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Royal Princess 4/5-4/22 Specimens not obtained
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Dream 3/16-3/31 Norovirus
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper 3/1-3/6 Specimens not obtained
    Sun Cruises Sun Dream 2/17-2/24 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Sun Princess 1/25-2/9 Norovirus
    Sun Cruises Sun Dream 1/20-2/3 Norovirus
    Carnival Criuse Line Carnival Spirit 1/27-2/4 Norovirus
    Royal Olympic Cruises Olympia Voyager 1/15-2/3 Unknown
    Regal Cruise Line Regal Empress 1/11-1/18 Unknown
    Classic Cruises of Newport Arabella 1/11-1/18 Specimens not obtained
    Cunard Line Queen Elizabeth 2 1/5-1/18 Norovirus
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper 12/28/2002-1/4 Specimens not obtained
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norway 12/28/2002-1/4 Specimens not obtained

  • 2002
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Conquest 12/8-12/15 Norovirus
    P & O Cruises Oceana 11/29-12/12 Norovirus
    Radisson Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Mariner 11/23-12/2 Salmonella
    Celebrity Cruises Constellation 10/25-11/8 Norovirus
    Carnival Cruises Fascination 11/30-12/2 Norovirus
    Disney Cruise Line Disney Magic 11/11-11/21 Norovirus
    Seabourn Cruise Line Seabourn Pride 10/28-11/10 Specimens not obtained
    Holland America Line Amsterdam 11/11-11/21 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Amsterdam 10/1-10/22 Norovirus
    Clipper Cruises Nantucket Clipper 10/19-10/29 Sappovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Sun 9/28-10/5 Norovirus
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Dream 9/10-9/25 Shigella, Giardia
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Sun 8/3-8/10 Specimens not obtained
    Clipper Cruise Line Yorktown Clipper 7/27-8/3 Specimens not obtained
    Holland America Line Ryndam 7/25-8/1 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Ocean Princess 5/25-6/1 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Ryndam 4/7-4/24 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Amsterdam 1/4-4/28 Specimens not obtained
    Cunard Line Caronia 3/24-4/5 Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) / Shigella
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper 3/23-3/30 Norovirus
    Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Pride March Norovirus

  • 2001
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper September Norovirus
    Delta Queen Steamboat Company Mississippi August Norovirus
    Cunard Line Coronia 3/11-3/29 Norovirus
    P & O Cruises Oriana 2/20-3/14 Specimens not obtained

  • 2000
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Disney Cruise Line Disney Magic 6/2-6/5 Salmonella
    Cruise West Spirit of Glacier Bay 5/28-6/1 Norovirus
    Palm Beach Casino Line Palm Beach Princess 5/18-6/1 Specimens not obtained
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper 2/5-2/12 Norovirus
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper 1/22-1/29 Norovirus
    1/15-1/22 Norovirus
  • 1999
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Clipper Cruies Line Nantucket Clipper 1/30-2/6 Norovirus
    1/23-1/30 Norovirus
    1/16-1/23 Norovirus
    1/9-1/16 Norovirus
    1/2-1/9 Norovirus

  • 1998
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Vision of the Seas 11/28-12/7 Specimens not obtained
    Norwegian Cruise Line Norway 10/10-10/24 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Regal Princess 6/21-6/28 Norovirus
    6/14-6/21 Norovirus
    6/7-6/14 Norovirus
    Imperial Majesty Cruises Ocean Breeze 5/17-5/24 Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
    Investigation done at the request of the cruise line outside the U.S.
    Holland America Line Statendam 3/29-4/8 Specimens not obtained
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Legend of the Seas 2/28-3/11 Norovirus

  • 1997
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Regal Cruises Regal Empress 12/17-12/21 Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
    Celebrity Cruises Zenith 12/5-12/15 Specimens not obtained
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper 10/23-10/30 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Royal Princess 4/15-4/19 Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
    Holland America Line Noordam 3/29-4/5 Cyclospora
    Royal Cruise Line Royal Odyssey 3/25-4/4 Norovirus
    No sail recommendation
    Royal Cruise Line Royal Odyssey 3/4-3/14 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Regal Princess 2/13-2/28 Specimens not obtained
    Clipper Cruise Line Nantucket Clipper 2/8-2/15 Norovirus

  • 1996
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Carnival Cruise Line Jubliee 6/16-6/23 Norovirus
    Holland America Line Noordam 4/27-5/11 Norovirus
    Princess Cruises Royal Princess 3/15-3/26 Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)

  • 1995
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Celebrity Cruises Horizon 7/15-7/22 Salmonella
    Carnival Cruise Line Fantasy 4/30-5/4 Shigella sonnei
    Orient Line Crown Odyssey 1/12-1/26 Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)

  • 1994
    Cruise Line Cruise Ship Sailing Dates Causative Agent
    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Viking Serenade 8/29-9/1 Shigella flexneri
    Celebrity Cruises Horizon 6/26-7/2 Legionella
    Premier Cruise LIne StarShip Oceanic 6/13-6/17 Norovirus
    Regency Cruises Regent Rainbow 3/18-4/1 Viral gastroenteritis
    American Family American Adventure 12/26/93-2/2/94 Shigella flexneri