A cruise ship is scheduled to visit Santa Barbara on Thursday following a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stating the ship experienced a norovirus outbreak last week.
Norovirus, the highly contagious “vomiting bug” that causes acute gastroenteritis, can easily spread within close living quarters such as on cruise ships.
The AIDAdiva ship is scheduled to anchor in the Santa Barbara Channel on December 18, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with 2,050 passengers onboard.
The CDC report was released on December 4, 2025 stating that 95 passengers and 6 crew members reported being ill with diarrhea and vomiting connected to norovirus.
The illnesses were first reported on November 30, 2025 as cruise ships are required to report these cases to the CDC.
The AIDAdiva, as part of Aida Cruises, departed Germany on November 10 and made stops last month in the Isle of Portland (England), Halifax (Canada), Boston, New York City, Charleston, S.C., and Miami.
According to CruiseMapper, AIDAdiva’s itinerary also includes Puerto Vallarta (Saturday), San Diego (Tuesday), Los Angeles (Wednesday), Santa Barbara (Thursday), and San Francisco (Dec. 19–21).
In response to the outbreak, Aida Cruises and the crew aboard the ship reported the following actions:
- Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan
- Collected stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases for testing
- Isolated ill passengers and crew
- Consulted with the CDC about sanitation cleaning procedures and reporting ill cases
The CDC stated it is remotely monitoring the situation, including review of the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.
Norovirus is rising across California heading into peak season, with health officials warning a newly emerged strain could fuel more illness this winter.
In Los Angeles County, wastewater concentrations of norovirus are climbing, signaling increased community transmission, the county’s Department of Public Health said.
Statewide, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports rising levels in wastewater with especially notable increases in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. While activity is trending upward, CDPH says statewide wastewater levels remain low overall.
Officials are monitoring the recent emergence of a new norovirus strain, GII.17, which the CDC says can be associated with up to 50% more illness than typical seasons. Norovirus outbreaks most often occur between November and April.
So far this year, 32 lab-confirmed norovirus outbreaks have been reported to CDPH, compared with 69 last year. Health authorities caution those figures don’t necessarily reflect the full burden, as many outbreaks are never lab-confirmed and can range widely in size.
What to know about norovirus
- Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the U.S., the CDC says. It spreads easily, including via contact with contaminated surfaces and, in some situations, through the air.
- Most people recover within 1 to 3 days but can remain contagious after symptoms improve.
Prevention tips
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water (hand sanitizer is less effective against norovirus).
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly.
- Rinse and cook produce and shellfish thoroughly.
- Stay home when sick and for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop; avoid preparing food for others while ill.
Health officials emphasize that norovirus activity can vary by community week to week. Residents are encouraged to follow hygiene and food-safety practices and to stay alert to local public health updates as the season progresses.
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How about not letting anyone off of this death ship to wander around in our city? How hard would that be to accomplish?
Agree – With a confirmed CDC status of the Novovirus outbreak on the ship – the captain should not let ill passengers off in SB. What ever happened to doing the responsible thing? I’ve got an autoimmune disease and have to be real careful about not getting sick. Sigh.
Pretty sure the quarantined passengers are not being let out of quarantine to wander our streets.
“Pretty sure”?? Nowhere does this article say that. Even if that were true which I doubt, how about all the others that are carrying it prior to symptoms and just about to pass it on to Simone else here?
You sound like you assume a lot.
Maybe third times a charm? Nothing offensive and nothing we don’t all already know about this guy
BASIC – you assume the CDC and doctors on the ship would release infected passengers and crew from quarantine. Why?
Why do you doubt thay doctors would do their jobs?
Your assumptions are vast. Can you explain them?
Haha! Love it. I think that probably wouldn’t fly with our City Council though. They love the cruise ship$$$$.
Aahh, the good ole’ cruise ship Norovirus. Welcome to SB! The author left out the single most important prevention tip however – avoid cruise ships.
Sure. Let the cruise ship come to our harbor and drop off its norovirus contaminated tourists. Already unbelieveable how stupid Santa Barbara City is about allowing these cruise ships to contaminate our air and ocean. Why not give us your virus infected tourists, too?
Uh… Hello… Why are they being allowed to port here?
“Most people recover within 1 to 3 days but can remain contagious after symptoms improve.”