Key Aspects:
- Approximately 200 guests fell ill during Balmoral’s previous 10-night sailing to Norway and Scotland.
- Guests endured gastrointestinal symptoms that were likely the work of norovirus, although the causative agent hasn’t been confirmed.
- The cruise line implemented enhanced sanitation and cleaning procedures to prevent further spread.
Balmoral’s recent sailing to the Norwegian Fjords was plagued with stomach upset, as approximately 200 guests fell ill with a stomach bug. The ship can accommodate up to 1,250 guests and 537 crew members, meaning around 11% of the population onboard was impacted.
Normally, outbreaks are reported to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program when 3% or more of the people onboard become ill. But as this sailing did not include any US ports, it falls outside the jurisdiction of the CDC.
It’s not clear which causative agent was behind the outbreak, but the highly contagious norovirus is the prime suspect.
The Fred Olsen ship concluded its 10-night sailing from Southampton, UK, on January 30, 2026, but the experience remains fresh for passengers affected.
Preventive Measures Taken
As is the standard protocol, the crew members immediately took action to mitigate further spread of illness on the 43,537-gross ton ship.
“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,” Dr. Kate Bunyan, Director of Health Services, told The Shetland Times.
“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,” Dr. Bunyan continued.
These measures included implementing enhanced cleaning protocols onboard and isolating symptomatic guests in their cruise cabins.The cruise line also kept passengers informed of the situation with overhead announcements.
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One passenger, who remained anonymous, told The Shetland Times that there were daily updates saying the ship was “experiencing increasing cases of people presenting with symptoms of gastroenteritis.”
Embarkation for Next Sailing Delayed
Out of an abundance of caution, embarkation for the January 30 sailing was briefly delayed to allow for an extra deep cleaning of the ship before new, healthy guests were welcomed onboard.
“Balmoral will be returning to Southampton tomorrow, where she will set sail a little later than planned to allow for a deep clean of the ship and cruise terminal,” Dr. Bunyan said on January 29.
Per cruise tracking data, Balmoral left Southampton on the evening of January 30 as planned. She is now on her way to Alesund, Norway, where she is due to make her first port call of the journey on February 2.
During the rest of the 15-night Northern Lights-themed voyage, passengers will get to visit Norway’s Narvik, Alta, Tromso, Sortland (Langoya Island), and Molde.
Was Everyone Really Sick?
As the cruise ship encountered rough seas, some passengers were speculating whether all the afflicted guests shared the same virus or if some were simply seasick.
The ship was supposed to visit Lerwick, Scotland, on January 27 so that guests could partake in Up-Helly-Aa, which is Europe’s largest fire festival. But due to stormy weather, which brought strong winds and large swells, the visit was cancelled.
“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,” the cruise line stated.
Regardless of the reason behind the illness, new guests can rest assured that the crew members followed the strictest and most robust protocols to clean the ship and make sure everyone stays safe going forward.
