The news of norovirus spreading on a cruise ship is enough to instill fear in all who cruise, but a nightmare is unfolding on a current cruise, with one in six passengers falling ill to the highly contagious gastrointestinal virus.
German-based cruise line Phoenix Reisen’s 44,656-gross-ton Artania set off from Bremerhaven, Germany, on July 5, 2025 with nearly 1,200 passengers excited to visit nine ports in Norway.
However, just days into the voyage, reports began to circulate that illness was moving through the ship. One recent update claims 197 passengers have tested positive for norovirus.
Acting municipal chief medical officer in Norway’s Vestvågøy, Hallvard Angelsen, confirmed the numbers in a statement to Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation’s NRK.
“So far, no local infections have been reported at ports where the ship has docked, but the virus has a 48-hour incubation period, so we will have a clearer picture in about a day and a half,” Angelsen said to the press.
Artania made its first call in Bronnoysund on July 8 after two days at sea, during which 50 cases had been reported, according to local media.
It has since sailed to Gravdal on July 9, Honningsvag on July 11, Alta on July 12, and is currently calling in Tromsø on July 13, 2025.
The voyage still has four upcoming calls in Andalsnes, Geiranger, Hellesylt, and Bergen before returning to Bremerhaven on July 19, 2025.
Reports from the vessel say symptomatic passengers have been confined to their cabins. Additionally, a doctor and nurse joined Artania from Lofoten’s Arctic Guide Service to assist with managing ill passengers, according to NRK.
The welcome help also arrived with more disinfectants and hand sanitizer as the ship reportedly ran out due to the outbreak.
What to Know About Norovirus
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), norovirus is a highly contagious virus often associated with cruise ships due to the close quarters and shared facilities onboard.
It spreads easily from person to person through contact with contaminated surfaces, food, or water.
Symptoms typically appear within 12 to 48 hours of exposure and include the sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping, and sometimes fever or body aches.
Read Also: How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation
While most people recover in one to three days, both the CDC and ECDC note that guests can remain contagious for up to two days after symptoms stop – and in some cases, even longer.
The virus can survive on surfaces for days and requires thorough disinfecting to eliminate, which is why the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program outlines strict procedures for cruise lines to follow.
While Artania is not sailing under US jurisdiction, its onboard medical staff and shore agents are following similar containment strategies, which include isolating symptomatic passengers, disinfecting all common areas frequently, and limiting access to buffets and shared utensils.
Although the ship has replenished its hand sanitizer, the CDC says alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not be effective against norovirus. Instead, it recommends frequent handwashing with soap and water.
So far in 2025, the CDC has recorded 17 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks aboard cruise ships in the US, with 12 attributed to norovirus – a figure already nearing or surpassing the yearly totals for 2023 (14) and 2024 (18).
Experts told US media they attribute the rise to the emergence of a new strain, GII.17, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of US cases since last summer.
