Hundreds affected by sickness outbreak on Cunard ship

A wave of illness aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 has affected over 200 passengers and crewmembers, marking the largest cruise ship outbreak of 2025 so far.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed it as a norovirus outbreak, with symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting.

The Queen Mary 2 is currently on a month-long transatlantic journey from Southampton to New York and the Caribbean, between 8 March and 6 April.

The outbreak was first reported to the CDC on 18 March, with 224 passengers and 17 crewmembers falling ill.

In response, the cruise line implemented standard outbreak protocols, such as enhanced cleaning and disinfection, while isolating all affected individuals.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and, as a precaution, have completed a thorough deep clean of the ship while activating our enhanced health and safety protocols,” the cruise line stated.

To date in 2025, the CDC has reported 12 illness outbreaks on cruise ships, most of which have been linked to norovirus.

Additionally, the CDC has reported another ongoing outbreak aboard the Seabourn Encore, which is on a sailing scheduled to end on 9 April.

Last year almost 100 passengers reported being sick following a norovirus outbreak aboard a Celebrity Cruises ship.