Cruises

Stomach Bugs, Not Hantavirus, Are A Bigger Threat On Cruises

Stomach bugs on cruise ships have reached their highest levels in nearly two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vessel Sanitation Program. The number of gastrointestinal outbreaks reached 23 last year, the highest since 2007, while January through mid-May 2025 saw 17 outbreaks compared to four in the same period this year. Despite a rare hantavirus outbreak that killed three people on the MV Hondius, mild gastrointestinal illnesses remain far more common on vessels, with global cruise passenger volume reaching a record 37 million in 2025.