Gastro Outbreak on UK Cruise Ship: Hundreds Affected During Voyage

Approximately 200 passengers aboard the Balmoral cruise ship reported illnesses during its recent ten-night voyage to Norway and Scotland, which concluded on January 30, 2026. This equates to about 11% of the total occupancy of 1,250 guests and 537 crew members. While the specific cause has not been confirmed, symptoms were consistent with norovirus, a highly contagious virus often involved in gastrointestinal outbreaks.

Due to the cruise not touching any U.S. ports, it fell outside the scope of the CDC’s monitoring requirements, which typically demand reporting when 3% or more of passengers fall ill. However, crew members promptly enacted enhanced sanitation measures following the outbreak to curb further illness. Dr. Kate Bunyan, Director of Health Services, emphasized that the safety and wellbeing of guests and crew members were of utmost importance, noting that robust health and safety protocols were constantly in place.

The cruise line’s response included increasing cleaning procedures and isolating guests showing symptoms. Ongoing communication with passengers was maintained via public announcements regarding the situation. One affected guest described the experience as uncomfortable with daily updates indicating a rise in cases related to gastroenteritis.

To ensure safety for the next set of cruisers, embarkation for the following sailing was postponed to conduct a deep cleaning of both the ship and the cruise terminal. The Balmoral departed on schedule for its next journey to Alesund, Norway, on the evening of January 30, with planned stops in various Norwegian cities throughout its Northern Lights-themed voyage.

There was speculation among some passengers about whether all cases of illness were due to the virus, or if some discomfort resulted from the ship’s rough conditions at sea. The cruise had to cancel a scheduled visit to Lerwick, Scotland, due to adverse weather conditions, which further complicated the experience for guests hoping to participate in the Up-Helly-Aa fire festival, one of Europe’s largest. The cruise line stated that guest safety is always prioritized above all else.

For more details on cruise ship outbreaks or related health concerns, you can visit CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.

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