Second Norovirus Outbreak Hits Coral Princess in 2025, Affecting Dozens of Passengers and Crew

In February 2025, the Coral Princess cruise ship was struck by a second norovirus outbreak within the same year, affecting both passengers and crew members. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 69 out of the 1,906 passengers and 13 of the 895 crew members reported symptoms of the highly contagious virus during the 16-day voyage, which began on February 21 from Los Angeles, California, and concluded on March 9 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The cruise included scheduled stops in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Aruba, and Princess Cruises responded swiftly by impleme

In February 2025, the Coral Princess cruise ship was struck by a second norovirus outbreak within the same year, affecting both passengers and crew members. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 69 out of the 1,906 passengers and 13 of the 895 crew members reported symptoms of the highly contagious virus during the 16-day voyage, which began on February 21 from Los Angeles, California, and concluded on March 9 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The cruise included scheduled stops in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Aruba, and Princess Cruises responded swiftly by implementing enhanced sanitation measures. These measures included isolating affected individuals, conducting thorough disinfection, and providing health guidance to everyone aboard. "We immediately enacted enhanced sanitization protocols, including comprehensive disinfection, isolating affected guests, and offering health guidance to everyone on board," Princess Cruises stated. This incident marks the second outbreak on the Coral Princess in 2025. The first occurred in January, impacting 128 passengers and 20 crew members. Norovirus, a highly contagious virus known to cause vomiting and diarrhea, spreads rapidly through contaminated food, water, and surfaces, which is why cruise ships remain particularly vulnerable to such outbreaks. The CDC urges passengers to maintain strict hygiene, wash their hands frequently, and refrain from traveling until at least 48 hours after symptoms subside to prevent further spread of the virus. The Coral Princess incident is part of a broader trend observed in 2025, with the CDC tracking a total of 15 disease outbreaks on cruise ships worldwide. Other significant cases include outbreaks aboard Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, as well as multiple incidents on Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess, Coral Princess, and Sapphire Princess. To reduce infection risks, passengers are strongly encouraged to adhere to onboard health protocols, wash hands frequently, and promptly report any symptoms. These preventive measures are critical to ensuring a safe and healthy cruise experience.