Norovirus Outbreak Infects Over 100 on Caribbean Princess Cruise

Regional outlets in Europe, Latin America and Asia focus on how the hantavirus and norovirus incidents could affect cruise tourism and port cities. These reports stress that Spain, the Netherlands and other countries followed strict procedures, but they also note passenger anxiety and questions over compensation and future bookings. Many expect cruise lines to face tougher health rules from port states and closer scrutiny from travelers in the coming months.

• •Authorities in Tenerife and Dutch ports coordinated evacuation flights and onward travel for MV Hondius passengers from multiple countries.
• •Latin American and European reports list confirmed hantavirus cases by nationality, underlining the outbreak’s cross-border nature.
• •Cruise passengers and travel agents are reassessing itineraries that rely heavily on Atlantic and Caribbean routes.
• •Port cities that handled the MV Hondius and Caribbean Princess incidents are reviewing their emergency plans for shipborne outbreaks.
• •Regional tourism officials warn that repeated illness reports from cruise ships could hurt local economies that depend on cruise arrivals.