Dream Cruise Turns into Disaster After Norovirus Sickens More Than 100 Onboard

A norovirus outbreak aboard an AIDA Cruises ship has left more than 100 passengers and crew members ill, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The outbreak occurred on the AIDAdiva, which is currently on a 133-day world cruise visiting destinations including the U.S., England, Mexico, Japan, and South Africa. The ship, operated by Germany-based AIDA Cruises, departed from Hamburg on November 10.

The CDC reported that the outbreak was first noted on November 30 after stops in Boston, New York, Miami, and Charleston, South Carolina. At least 95 of the 2,007 passengers and six of the 640 crew members reported experiencing symptoms during the voyage.

According to the CDC, the main symptoms included diarrhea and vomiting, with norovirus identified as the cause. In response, crew members consulted the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program for guidance, isolated ill passengers and crew, increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, and collected stool samples for testing.

The world cruise officially concludes on March 23, 2026, when the AIDAdiva is scheduled to return to Hamburg. Meanwhile, AIDA Cruises is already planning its next world cruise aboard the AIDAsol, which will run from October 18, 2026, to February 21, 2027, visiting 43 ports across 20 countries and four continents.

Since the start of 2025, the CDC has reported 21 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. All cruise lines are required to report any gastrointestinal illness during sailings. The most recent outbreak before this occurred in October on Oceania Cruises’ Insignia ship, where over 70 passengers and crew were sickened during an 11-day voyage.