At a glance
Learn more about outbreaks of gastrointestinal (GI) illness on cruise ships in 2023 within the Vessel Sanitation Program's (VSP) jurisdiction.
Notes about the data
GI illness is a commonly used term for acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Reporting GI illness on cruise ships is important. When passengers and crew tell the medical center onboard about their symptoms, it helps GI outbreaks get detected quickly. This allows steps to be taken to limit the spread of illness. Medical staff evaluate symptoms to see if they meet our case definition for AGE:
- Three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period or what is more than normal for that person OR
- Vomiting along with one of the following symptoms: diarrhea, muscle ache, headache, abdominal cramp, or fever
Cruise ships are required to report these cases to us.
What case totals mean
Cases reported are totals for the entire voyage. It does not mean all people are sick at the same time, such as when they arrive or leave a port or ship.
Learn more
Learn how passengers can protect themselves with these tips for healthy cruising.
Find more information on VSP outbreak response
Read our publication on cruise ship GI illness outbreaks during 2006-2019.
| Cruise Line | Cruise Ship | Sailing Dates | Voyage Number | Causative Agent | Case Counts (Passengers) | Case Counts (Crew) |
| Virgin Voyages | Scarlet Lady | 10/8-10/13, 2023 | 10000687 | Salmonella and E. coli | 71 of 2,198 (3.23%) | 7 of 1,163 (0.60%) |
| Viking Cruises | Viking Neptune | 6/6-6/20, 2023 | 10005092 | Norovirus | 110 of 838 (13.1%) | 9 of 455 (1.98%) |
| Celebrity Cruises | Celebrity Summit | 5/15-5/25, 2023 | 58978 | Norovirus | 152 of 2,144 (7.09%) | 25 of 963 (2.60%) |
| Holland America | Nieuw Amsterdam | 5/6-5/21, 2023 | 539 | Norovirus | 246 of 1,971 (12.4%) | 38 of 826 (4.60%) |
| Princess Cruises | Grand Princess | 3/31-4/28, 2023 | AP311 | Norovirus | 99 of 1,727 (5.73%) | 32 of 1,089 (2.94%) |
| Princess Cruises | Emerald Princess | 3/17-4/1, 2023 | EP307 | Norovirus | 99 of 2,123 (4.66%) | 21 of 1,192 (1.76%) |
| Royal Caribbean International | Enchantment of the Seas | 3/23-3/31, 2023 | 16812 | Norovirus | 117 of 2,362 (5.0%) | 20 of 917 (2.18%) |
| Royal Caribbean International | Enchantment of the Seas | 3/11-3/23, 2023 | 16811 | Norovirus | 155 of 2,148 (7.22%) | 10 of 880 (1.14%) |
| Celebrity Cruises | Celebrity Equinox | 3/9-3/18, 2023 | 63524 | Norovirus | 122 of 2,579 (4.7%) | 14 of 1,222 (1.1%) |
| Celebrity Cruises | Celebrity Constellation | 3/6-3/17, 2023 | 59750 | Norovirus | 87 of 2,062 (4.2%) | 10 of 960 (1.04%) |
| Princess Cruises | Ruby Princess | 2/26-3/5, 2023 | RU305P | Norovirus | 284 of 2,881 (9.9%) | 34 of 1,159 (2.9%) |
| Royal Caribbean International | Jewel of the Seas | 1/28-2/3, 2023 | 852 | Norovirus | 68 of 2,185 (3.11%) | 1 of 865 (0.12%) |
| Royal Caribbean International | Brilliance of the Seas | 1/16-1/21, 2023 | 22948 | Norovirus | 70 of 2,160 (3.24%) | 8 of 838 (0.95%) |
| P&O Cruises | Arcadia | 1/3-4/13, 2023 | J301 | Norovirus | 88 of 1,752 (5.02%) | 20 of 815 (2.45%) |