Crew Members Sickened with the Norovirus Onboard Seabourn's Encore Cruise Ship
The Odyssey-class ship, Seabourn Encore, is the latest cruise ship struck with the norovirus. This time, it was the crew members who were most affected by the outbreak.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the federal agency that tracks onboard illnesses, reports twenty-two crew members, or 5.4% of employees, have reported symptoms, while 7 guests out of a total 461 onboard, 1.5%, did so.
Norovirus outbreaks must be reported to the CDC when the percentage of affected people onboard reaches 3%. The virus is highly contagious and can be contracted from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or touching contaminated surfaces.
Norovirus infection causes gastroenteritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. This leads to diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Norovirus illness is often called by other names, such as food poisoning and the stomach flu.
New outbreak confirmations at the CDC revealed another recent viral illness reported on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2. The ocean liner stated there were ‘multiple cases of gastrointestinal illnesses’ during her 29-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that sailed round trip from Southampton, UK, on March 8, 2025.
The exact number of affected guests and crew was not initially known, but the CDC has now confirmed that 183 of 2,538 guests were impacted, representing 7.2%, and 14 of 1,232 crew members, or 1.1%, reported symptoms.
Norovirus has affected several of the other major cruise lines in 2025. Three Holland America Line ships, Eurodam, Rotterdam, and Volendam, all experienced spread of the bug onboard, with Rotterdam having to deal with it twice — once on a February voyage and again in March.
Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess also was hit with the virus twice, once in late January and again in late February. Other notable ships that experienced norovirus were Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas and Viking’s Viking Mars.
The close quarters and high population density on cruise ships make them particularly vulnerable to norovirus outbreaks. Aronfeld Trial Lawyers has compiled a list of ways to avoid contracting the virus on your next cruise.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, before eating and after touching surfaces touched by others.
- Do not rely on hand sanitizer. These stations are everywhere on cruise ships, and while helpful, hand sanitizer is not as effective against norovirus as thorough hand washing with soap and water.
- Wash your hands thoroughly. Use soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds, paying attention to between fingers and under fingernails.
- Avoid touching your face. Minimize touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Sanitize surfaces. Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, countertops, and handrails.
- Proper food handling. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, cook food to proper temperatures, and avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen.
- Report illness promptly. If you suspect you have norovirus, inform relevant authorities at once to help prevent further spread.
Aronfeld Trial Lawyers has a strong record of success in handling cruise ship injury cases and lawsuits related to foodborne illnesses like norovirus and salmonella, including those against P&O Cruises. We work to ensure our clients receive justice and compensation. We understand the tactics used by cruise lines to minimize claims and are prepared to counter them effectively.
SOURCE: https://www.cruisehive.com/ultra-luxe-ship-reports-outbreak-mostly-affecting crew-members/166780