Hantavirus and Norovirus Outbreaks on Cruise Ships
Recent incidents of hantavirus and norovirus on cruise ships have caught the media’s attention, but industry experts believe they won’t significantly hinder the growing appeal of vacation cruises. In fact, many in the cruise industry are optimistic about a record number of passengers worldwide this year, despite reports of three fatalities on the MV Hondius due to hantavirus and a norovirus outbreak on a British ship in Bordeaux, France.
Rob Kwortnik, an associate professor at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, noted the resilience of cruise passengers. “The cruise consumer seems to be somewhat Teflon when it comes to stories like this,” he said.
In April, the Cruise Lines International Association projected that approximately 38.3 million people will cruise this year, marking a 4% increase from the previous year’s record of 37.2 million.
However, the exact sales figures remain closely guarded by the industry. When asked about the potential impact of the incidents on the MV Hondius, the trade association declined to speculate on bookings, and multiple prominent cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Carnival, did not respond to inquiries about customer interest.
Oceanwide Expeditions, which owns the Hondius, stated it expects no changes in its operations, with a cruise departing from Keflavik, Iceland, scheduled for May 29.
Some experienced cruisers expressed that such outbreaks wouldn’t sway their plans. Jenni Fielding, a blogger known as Cruise Mummy, shared, “I have eight cruises booked, and I’ll absolutely be booking another. Cruising is as safe as any other type of holiday, provided travelers follow sensible health advice and stay aware of official guidance.”
Currently on a cruise in Monaco, hospitality influencer Scott Eddy mentioned that fellow passengers haven’t brought up the hantavirus incident. “The average traveler understands that this is an isolated health situation and not something unique to cruise travel itself,” he added.
According to Bob Levinstein, CEO of CruiseCompete.com, cabin bookings in early May were up by 31.7% compared to the same time last year. He stated, “I can categorically say that we have not seen any drop in demand.” Levinstein addressed the association between norovirus and cruises, explaining how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires ships to disclose any illness that affects over 3% of passengers. “On a ship with 5,000 passengers, an illness impacting 3% of them goes completely unnoticed by the vast majority of vacationers,” he noted.
Kwortnik suggested that current news stories tend to have little sway over prospective cruisers, as trips are typically booked six months to a year in advance. “People who are booking cruises tomorrow are thinking about the holidays,” he commented.
During a recent investor call, cruise line Viking indicated that demand for river cruises had briefly dipped earlier this year due to geopolitical tensions but quickly recovered. The company reported that 92% of its 2026 cruises and 38% of 2027 cruises were already booked, neglecting to mention recent health outbreaks.
Andrew Coggins, a cruise industry analyst, remarked that even if potential cruisers feel apprehensive about recent news, they’ll likely miss the window for refunds. He suggested that the hantavirus story has garnered attention due to its similarity to the Diamond Princess quarantine during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic had a devastating effect on the cruise sector, causing many small operators to shut down. Passengers didn’t gradually return until 2022, according to Coggins. Although there’s still a noticeable decrease in Chinese and Japanese cruisers, demand from other regions is thriving. “There are new ships on order out to 2037. The cruise lines are bullish,” Coggins stated.
One contributing factor to the cruise industry’s resurgence is its wide-ranging appeal across various demographics. A recent survey by Bank of America found that younger generations, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are among those most likely to plan a cruise within the next year.
The survey also highlighted an increase in cruise spending among lower-income households, even as these households cut back on travel expenses like airfare and lodging. Cruise lines have attracted these travelers by offering shorter and more economical itineraries.
Kwortnik pointed out that cruising generally provides a better value for vacation budgets, often costing less than merely staying in a hotel. “On average, it costs more just to stay at a hotel in Miami than it does to sail on a cruise out of Miami – and the cruise includes lodging, multiple destinations, food, entertainment, and transportation all in the fare,” he added.
