- Norovirus is the top cause of cruise-related foodborne illness outbreaks.
- Handwashing before meals is your best defense against viral spread on board.
- Avoid buffet lines and eat early to minimize exposure to contaminated food.
If you’re one of the 39.6 million people forecasted to go on a cruise in 2026, you’re likely daydreaming about expeditions in brand-new destinations, soaking up the sunshine on the deck and indulging in a smorgasbord of food and drink while on board. In order to have a successful trip (read: free of stomach aches or trips to the physician on board), it’s best to take a few precautions before you dig in.
“Occurrences of gastrointestinal illnesses are rare on cruise ships,” the Cruise Lines International Association says, noting that you have a one in 5,500 chance of contracting one on board, compared to other settings (like one in 15 on land). That said, food poisoning—particularly norovirus—has caused several outbreaks in recent years. So we turned to Martin Bucknavage, a food scientist at Penn State who specializes in industrial food safety, for his advice on how best to avoid contracting a stomach bug on your next cruise.
Why Is Food Poisoning a Concern on Cruise Ships?
Food poisoning (or foodborne illness) is the broad term that refers to any infection or irritation of your digestive tract spread via food or drink. On cruise ships, most of these illnesses are caused by norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea and is spread from person to person as well as via food. Bacteria, like salmonella or E. coli, also sometimes cause these illnesses and typically grow on food when it’s not handled or stored correctly.
According to Bucknavage, many passengers mistakenly believe that the food on board is what causes an outbreak of food poisoning on ships. “Food safety on cruise ships is paramount, and from what I have seen and read, cruise ships have tight procedures in place,” he says, adding that passengers bringing illnesses on board is the most common cause of outbreaks. “Without question, the biggest risk is norovirus infection. All it takes is one person bringing it on board and then it can spread quickly within the population.”
Norovirus thrives on cruises because it can easily spread among the captive population onboard. It only takes a tiny amount of virus particles to make someone sick, and those with the virus can shed billions of particles in their stool or vomit. Plus, particles can stay on surfaces for days—which, on a highly populated cruise ship, can cause an outbreak fast.
How To Avoid Food Poisoning on Your Next Cruise
While food poisoning can spread quickly on a cruise, there are precautions you can take to avoid it. The simplest and most effective prevention is washing your hands. Bucknavage recommends washing your hands after using the restroom and before eating to remove viral particles from your hands before digging in.
Eating in sit-down restaurants or in settings where food is served individually by staff is usually a safer bet than grazing buffets, where guests can serve themselves. In buffet lines, guests are more likely to use their hands, rather than the utensils, to serve themselves, or sneeze and cough on the food. If you must hit up a buffet (or if that’s the only serving option onboard), he says to go early to mitigate the risk.
While food poisoning due to bacteria is less common, there are still red flags to keep an eye out for. For one, make sure food is being kept at the correct temperature. Hot foods should be steaming, while cold foods should be kept on ice to ensure that nothing falls in the temperature danger zone of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius)—where bacteria like salmonella or E. coli can multiply rapidly. “If the food does not look right, smell right, or is not at the right temperature, avoid it,” Bucknavage says.
Some foods, like raw oysters or sushi, are also best to avoid if you’re particularly risk averse. Bivalves, like oysters, clams, mussels and scallops, are often linked to norovirus outbreaks, as they can become contaminated in the water they are harvested in and are often served raw. Thoroughly cooking bivalves and other seafood can kill norovirus.
Before your next cruise, you can also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website for current outbreaks and see how a ship or cruise line was scored during the most recent inspection by the Vessel Inspection Program.
Once on board, passengers may be tempted to overindulge in alcohol or sweet treats, or generally overeat while cruising—especially if a buffet is available. Try to not sway too far from your regular diet, as doing so can cause an upset stomach and put a damper on your trip.
The Bottom Line
Food poisoning outbreaks on cruises are often in the news, but you’re more likely to contract it on land than on your next trip. That said, norovirus has been responsible for most recent cruise outbreaks, as it is highly contagious and thrives in the captive, densely populated conditions cruise ships are known for. Washing your hands often is one of the most effective ways to avoid contracting food poisoning, as is skipping the buffet for a sit-down dinner service. Additionally, keep an eye out for passengers who are using their hands to serve themselves or sneezing or coughing on food, and ensure that food is not being kept in the temperature danger zone.
