Nearly 90 passengers and crew members on a cruise ship departing from Florida have been ill from the norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Control’s Ship Sanitation Program.
The Dutch American Line ship at Eurodam departed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on February 19 for a 10-day cruise at multiple stops in the Caribbean. I’m scheduled to return to Florida on Saturday.
A total of 88 people (79 passengers and nine crew members) reported feeling sick, equivalent to about 3% on board, vomiting diarrhea and the most common symptoms. Norovirus can cause muscle pain, headaches, abdominal cramps and fever.
The crew is currently implementing enhanced hygiene procedures and isolating sick people according to CDC policies. In a post on the cruise ship message board, Eurodam passengers reported the crew up to sterilizing paddles and balls during the ping-pong tournament.
According to the CDC, approximately 19 to 21 million people in the United States get infected with norovirus every year. Causing gastrointestinal diseases is the most common infection.
The agency reported 16 different outbreaks on a cruise ship in 2024. Nine has already been recorded in 2025.
The CDC encourages cruise passengers to wash their hands frequently and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
