One viral outbreak on a cruise ship was already commanding worldwide attention last week when health officials reported another on a separate vessel.
Oceanwide Expeditions’ MV Hondius was grappling with hantavirus cases that resulted in three deaths when more than 110 guests and crew members reported being ill in a norovirus outbreak aboard Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess. The latter marked the fourth outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on cruises to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s threshold for public notification in 2026.
The timing may fuel a perception that cruise ships are frequently at the center of health crises. However, while certain features of the vessels are conducive to the spread of illness, experts said the events shouldn't necessarily dissuade passengers from setting sail.
Here’s what to know.
The MV Hondius outbreak, which prompted a coordinated response from the World Health Organization and other international authorities, evoked aspects of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, cruise ships became early sites of high-profile outbreaks, including aboard Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess.
