Third Norovirus Outbreak This Year Hits Princess Cruises Ship

More than 100 passengers and two dozen crew members aboard a Princess Cruises vessel have fallen ill with suspected norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It marks the third such outbreak on one of the company’s ships in 2024.

The Ruby Princess departed San Francisco on June 12 for a voyage to Alaska and Canada, scheduled to return July 2. Two weeks into the trip, the CDC received a report after the number of sick passengers crossed the agency’s outbreak threshold of 3 percent. Of the 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew members on board, at least 103 passengers and 23 crew members reported symptoms. The ship docked in San Francisco on Thursday for a full disinfection.

Norovirus, a highly contagious virus causing diarrhea and vomiting, spreads easily through microscopic particles from infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. Health officials stress regular handwashing with soap and water, especially after using the restroom or before eating. Cruise ships, with their close quarters, are frequent sites for such outbreaks—six other norovirus incidents have been reported on cruise ships this year. Princess Cruises did not immediately respond to questions about what may have caused this outbreak. Affected passengers and crew have been isolated as the vessel undergoes cleaning.