Seventy-five people have fallen ill in a norovirus outbreak aboard Oceania Cruises' Insignia ship, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ship departed Montreal, in the Canadian province of Quebec, on October 16, and is due to arrive in Boston on October 27 after several more stops.
Those sick—74 passengers and one crew member—mostly reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The cruise line said it has activated CDC-approved sanitation protocols, isolating sick guests and conducting thorough disinfection.
The CDC has recorded 20 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships so far in 2025, with 15 linked to norovirus. It's a highly contagious infection often spreading through close contact and contaminated surfaces. Norovirus can infect people of all ages, but especially the very young and the elderly.
What causes this distressing virus, and how can it be treated? Click through to learn everything you need to know about norovirus.