Recent gastrointestinal outbreaks on Princess Cruises and Viking vessels have affected nearly 150 individuals.

On the Coral Princess ship from Princess Cruises, which has 1,894 guests, 59 passengers and 12 crew members reported feeling unwell during their current cruise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The primary symptoms included vomiting and diarrhea, linked to norovirus infection.

The ship set sail from San Francisco, California, on January 20 for a 16-day trip that included stops in Mexico and Guatemala, based on information from CruiseMapper.

Similarly, on Viking’s Viking Mars, 62 out of 887 travelers reported illnesses during a voyage that concluded last Friday. They too experienced similar symptoms, although the CDC has not identified the exact cause. Additionally, nine crew members fell sick.

This ship departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 10 for a cruise through the Panama Canal, as noted by CruiseMapper.

Both cruise lines have enhanced cleaning protocols and have isolated affected passengers and crew members, among other precautions. However, Princess and Viking have yet to reply to YSL News’s inquiries for comment.

This year, the CDC has recorded five outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships that warrant public notice. In total, there were 18 such outbreaks in 2024, predominantly attributed to norovirus. The health agency indicates that these outbreaks are generally more prevalent in the winter months.

While often linked to cruise trips, these incidents represent only 1% of all reported outbreaks.

Dr. Dean Winslow, a Stanford Medicine professor of medicine and pediatrics, commented to YSL News earlier this month that these outbreaks commonly occur in communal environments, especially where food and drink are consumed. This includes settings like cruise ships, colleges, nursing homes, and even hospitals.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter based in Nashville.