Carnival Corporation’s Princess Cruises has confirmed a gastrointestinal illness outbreak aboard the Coral Princess, affecting more than 80 passengers and crew.
Outbreak Details
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 69 passengers and 13 crew members experienced gastrointestinal symptoms during the cruise that commenced on 21 February 2025. In total, 82 individuals—comprising 3.62% of passengers and 1.45% of crew—reported illnesses. The ship carried 1,906 passengers and 895 crew members at the time of the outbreak.
The CDC officially identified norovirus as the causative agent on 7 March 2025. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus known for rapid transmission through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. Affected individuals primarily experienced symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea.
Response Measures
Princess Cruises responded quickly by implementing rigorous cleaning procedures, testing samples from affected individuals, and isolating sick passengers and crew to control the spread of the illness.
The affected voyage was a 16-night Panama Canal itinerary departing from Los Angeles, California. It included port calls in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and Aruba before concluding in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 9 March.
Second Norovirus Incident in 2025
This marks the second norovirus incident aboard Coral Princess in 2025, following an earlier outbreak in January that impacted 148 individuals. Symptoms during that outbreak were similarly characterised by vomiting and diarrhoea.
Broader Impact on Cruise Industry
Multiple cruise lines have reported norovirus outbreaks this year, including Royal Caribbean International (Radiance of the Seas), Holland America Line (Rotterdam and Eurodam), Sea Cloud Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Princess Cruises. The Eurodam outbreak was particularly severe, affecting approximately 8% of passengers and 17 crew members.
The CDC notes a significant increase in gastrointestinal illness outbreaks aboard cruise ships in early 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, during which only three outbreaks were recorded. As of 12 March 2025, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line have not reported similar incidents.
The CDC publicly reports outbreaks under its Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) when voyages involving U.S. and foreign ports have illnesses affecting at least 3% of passengers or crew.
Increased Norovirus Activity Across the U.S.
Norovirus cases have also risen in the U.S. From 1 August 2024 to 15 January 2025, NoroSTAT-participating states—including North Carolina, Michigan, Oregon, and New Mexico—reported 1,078 outbreaks, nearly double the figure from the previous year.
Recent data from MU Health Care indicated that more than 60 patients presented norovirus-like symptoms within a single week. Additionally, the Tampa Bay Times highlighted elevated norovirus activity throughout Florida.
Dr Maria Garcia, an emergency medicine physician at Baptist Health South Florida, remarked, “It’s a tough illness to have to deal with.”
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