More than 20 guests, crew sick with GI illness on Oceania cruise
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the main symptom was diarrhea, but the cause is unknown.
Nathan DillerMore than 20 people got sick in an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness on an Oceania Cruises ship.
Among 633 guests aboard Oceania Insignia, 19 reported being ill during a voyage that ended April 14, along with three crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their main symptom was diarrhea.
The health agency said the cause is currently unknown.
The ship arrived in Miami after departing from Panama City on April 4 for a 10-day cruise with scheduled stops in Colombia, Curaçao, Aruba, Jamaica and more, according to CruiseMapper. The CDC listed the impacted voyage dates as April 7-14.
Oceania implemented heightened disinfection and cleaning measures and isolated sick guests and employees, among other steps, according to the health agency.
Oceania told USA TODAY that a "small number" of passengers reported acute gastroenteritis symptoms. The vessel's Sanitation Officer activated its CDC-approved protocol, and the cruise line provided treatment.
"At Oceania Cruises, the health and safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority," the company said in an emailed statement.
The CDC has logged three outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruises that met its threshold for public notification this year. There were 23 in 2025, 18 of which were caused by norovirus, and the illness caused 15 out of 18 total outbreaks the year before.
Norovirus is commonly associated with cruise ships, but those represent just 1% of all outbreaks reported.
"(Outbreaks are) often taking place within the community, and oftentimes we don't know that they're happening," Sarah R. Michaels, an assistant professor at Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, previously told USA TODAY. "Really, when we have these areas where people … are in really close contact, things like day care facilities, nursing homes and cruise ships, it’s more likely (to be) diagnosed, reported and brought to our attention."
This story was updated to add new information.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].