Balmoral Reports 200 Illness Cases on Norwegian Fjords Cruise
The outbreak highlights how cruise health reporting remains patchy outside United States routes, leaving passengers to rely on operators’ transparency and onboard controls.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak affecting about 200 passengers during a 10-night Norwegian Fjords cruise that ended in Southampton on January 30, 2026.
Illness reported on the Norwegian Fjords voyage
The round-trip sailing, which departed Southampton on January 20, saw passengers report symptoms consistent with gastroenteritis, including vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever. Fred. Olsen’s Director of Health Services, Dr. Kate Bunyan, said around 200 passengers experienced symptoms, about 11% based on the ship’s capacity of up to 1,250 guests and 537 crew.
An anonymous passenger told The Shetland Times that daily announcements were made as more guests came forward with symptoms. Fred. Olsen has not publicly confirmed a specific cause, although norovirus was cited as a likely possibility given its common link to cruise-ship gastrointestinal outbreaks.
Containment steps and onboard support
Dr. Bunyan said the crew moved quickly once cases were identified. “We have immediately implemented measures to help reduce transmission, and our medical team is on hand to provide support to anyone who should feel unwell during the cruise,” she told The Shetland Times.
Measures described by the cruise line included enhanced cleaning procedures and isolating symptomatic guests in their cabins to limit contact with others. Dr. Bunyan added, “The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has robust health, hygiene, and safety protocols in place at all times.”
Balmoral, a 43,537-gross-ton cruise ship, continued the voyage while the company provided updates through onboard announcements as the situation evolved.
Why there was no CDC Vessel Sanitation Program update
In the United States, cruise ship gastrointestinal outbreaks are typically tracked through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program when illness levels reach a defined threshold, generally 3% or more of passengers and crew reporting symptoms.
Balmoral’s sailing did not include any U.S. ports, placing it outside the CDC program’s jurisdiction. As a result, there was no CDC case count or public CDC update tied to this voyage.
Storm forecasts disrupt a planned stop for Up-Helly-Aa
The same sailing was also affected by winter weather in the North Atlantic. Balmoral was scheduled to call at Lerwick in the Shetland Islands on January 27, timed for Up-Helly-Aa, described as the largest fire festival in Europe and a major annual event marking the end of the Yule season.
The port call was canceled due to forecasts of strong winds and rough seas. In a statement, a Fred. Olsen spokesperson said, “While we understand the disappointment of missing the much-anticipated Up-Helly-Aa festival, the safety of our guests and crew must always remain our highest priority.”
As the ship encountered rough conditions, some passengers also speculated about whether all reported cases reflected the same gastrointestinal illness or whether some guests were experiencing motion-related sickness. The information shared publicly did not provide a medical determination beyond the reports of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Deep cleaning in Southampton ahead of the next departure
After Balmoral returned to Southampton, Fred. Olsen scheduled additional cleaning before the next embarkation. Dr. Bunyan said on January 29 that the ship would “set sail a little later than planned” to allow time for a deep clean of both the vessel and the cruise terminal.
Cruise tracking data later showed Balmoral departing Southampton on the evening of January 30 as planned, with embarkation briefly delayed to complete the extra sanitation steps before welcoming new guests.
Next sailing: a 15-night Northern Lights itinerary
Balmoral’s next voyage, a 15-night Northern Lights-themed cruise, commenced on January 30 and is scheduled to conclude on February 14. The itinerary includes Norway calls at Ålesund (with the first port call scheduled for February 2), Narvik, Alta, Tromsø, Sortland (Langøya Island), and Molde.
Recent context: a separate outbreak tracked on Rotterdam
The Balmoral incident occurred in the same general period as a gastrointestinal outbreak on Holland America Line’s Rotterdam, which the CDC recorded because the itinerary involved U.S. port operations. For Rotterdam’s southern Caribbean round-trip sailing from Fort Lauderdale that departed on December 28, 2025, the CDC reported 94 illnesses among 2,593 passengers and 1,005 crew members.
Balmoral has already resumed operations from Southampton, with scheduled Norway port calls beginning in early February as the ship continues its Northern Lights itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What caused the gastrointestinal outbreak onboard Balmoral?
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has not publicly confirmed the causative agent. Norovirus was cited as a likely possibility because it is commonly linked to cruise-ship gastrointestinal outbreaks, but no definitive cause was identified in the information shared.
Why wasn’t Balmoral’s outbreak listed by the CDC?
The sailing did not visit any U.S. ports, placing it outside the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program’s jurisdiction and public reporting system.
What steps did Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines take during the outbreak?
The cruise line said it implemented enhanced cleaning procedures, isolated symptomatic guests in their cabins to help reduce transmission, and provided support through the ship’s medical team. Passengers were kept informed through onboard announcements, and additional deep-cleaning was scheduled in Southampton before the next sailing.
Why was the Lerwick port call canceled?
The call at Lerwick on January 27 was canceled due to forecasts of strong winds and rough seas that made docking unsafe, the company said.
What destinations are included in Balmoral’s 15-night Northern Lights cruise, and when does it end?
The 15-night cruise includes scheduled calls in Ålesund (first port call set for February 2), Narvik, Alta, Tromsø, Sortland (Langøya Island), and Molde. The voyage is scheduled to conclude on February 14.
