Suspected norovirus outbreak hits 76 passengers on two-week cruise

Nearly 80 people fell ill during a suspected cruise ship norovirus outbreak aboard a two-week sailing from Japan to Hong Kong. 

According to Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP), 65 passengers and 11 crew members aboard Holland America Line's Westerdam cruise ship were reported ill during the February 15, 2026, voyage. 

The "suspected norovirus outbreak" was reported to the CHP on Feb. 27. There were around 2,000 guests and 800 crew members on the two-week cruise, with 38 males and 38 females between the ages of 24 and 92 falling ill. 

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Those affected reported "acute gastroenteritis (AGE) symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, and fever," per the CHP's press release. Thankfully, the vast majority of patients only experienced mild symptoms and remained clinically stable — though there were incidents of vomiting in public areas. 

"After inspecting the cruise ship, the CHP personnel briefed the affected individuals and the operator on health advice and necessary infection control measures, including thorough disinfection, proper handling of vomit, and attention to personal and environmental hygiene. The CHP also recommended enhancing training for frontline cleaning staff," said Dr. Edwin Tsui, the Controller of the CHP.

"After completing environmental hygiene inspections and epidemiological investigations onboard, and confirming that individuals preparing to enter Hong Kong were in good health, passengers and crew members disembarked this morning. Additionally, the CHP personnel provided detailed information about norovirus to arriving passengers and crew, advising them to seek medical attention promptly if they develop related symptoms."

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The 14-night cruise departed from Yokohama, Japan, on Feb. 15, 2026, before calling at Shimizu, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata, and Nagasaki, Japan, followed by Busan, South Korea, and Shanghai, China, according to iCruise. 

Upon arriving in Hong Kong on March 1, passengers were given health assessments at a temporary medical station at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal set up by the CHP. 

Moreover, the Holland America crew was instructed to conduct a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the cruise ship after passengers disembarked the 21-year-old vessel. Guests were allowed to board once the CHP deemed the onboard hygiene conditions satisfactory.

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Dr. Tsui added that all embarking passengers should seek medical attention if they develop related gastrointestinal symptoms due to the high levels of norovirus in nearby tourist areas. 

"Given the current high activity levels of norovirus in some tourist destinations, particularly in neighboring regions like Japan and Korea, where activity has been rising since late last year, I urge cross-border cruise passengers and operators to pay special attention to personal, food, and environmental hygiene to safeguard individual health and public health," he said.

Far fewer norovirus outbreaks this season so far compared to the same period last year

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Based on reporting from NoroSTAT-participating states, norovirus activity is significantly lower this season compared to last season. Between Aug. 1, 2025, and Feb. 5, 2026, 644 outbreaks were reported, compared with 1,707 outbreaks during the same time frame in 2024 and 2025. This represents a decrease of about 62%.

Similarly, by March 1, 2025, six cruise ship norovirus outbreaks had already been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Comparatively, there has yet to be a reported norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship this year, which further highlights the overall decline in norovirus cases. 

So far, the only gastrointestinal outbreak on a cruise ship was aboard the Seven Seas Mariner. However, the cause was not norovirus but E. coli.

The Westerdam cruise ship is wrapping up a seasonal stint in Asia

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According to Cruise Mapper, the Westerdam cruise ship will depart Yokohama on Apr. 12, 2026, on a one-way voyage to Vancouver, which will be her homeport throughout the summer. 

While stationed in Canada, she'll embark on a series of 14-night roundtrip sailings to The Last Frontier. Come September, Westerdam will return to Asia and spend over 7 months offering cruises from multiple ports, including Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore. 

Westerdam launched in April 2004 and is a midsized cruise ship, measuring around 81,000 gross tons.