The cruise industry seems to have carried on where it finished in late 2024 – with more gastrointestinal outbreaks.
Last year was the worst for more than a decade for illness outbreaks on ships.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC reported 16 outbreaks in 2024, with nearly one third of them coming in December alone.
The new year has got off to a bad start with two more cruises reporting illness outbreaks.
Combined, more than 120 guests and crew members have fallen ill on two ships.
It has affected Holland America Line’s Eurodam with 86 guests and eight crew reporting sickness.
More than 30 guests and crew are sick on Oceania Nautica, the CDC says.
“We initiated enhanced sanitation protocols in conjunction with the CDC to minimize further transmission,” a HAL spokesperson said.
The CDC says diarrhea and vomiting are the main symptoms in both outbreaks.
