The National Geographic Sea Bird, a cruise ship operated by Lindblad Expeditions, has been struck by its third norovirus outbreak since May, raising fresh concerns about the spread of the highly contagious stomach virus onboard. The latest outbreak was reported on July 12, two days after the ship departed Sitka and three days before its scheduled arrival in Juneau on July 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP).
Details of the Outbreak
The CDC reported that 18 of the ship’s 62 passengers had been affected, experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal cramps. In response, the crew isolated the sick passengers and intensified cleaning and disinfection procedures in line with their outbreak prevention and response plan. The source of the outbreak remains unknown, the CDC said.
Monitoring and Testing
“VSP is remotely monitoring the situation, including review of the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures,” health officials stated. Affected passengers have been asked to provide stool or vomitus samples to help identify the source. “Samples are pending confirmatory testing,” VSP added.
Previous Outbreaks on the Same Ship
This marks the third gastrointestinal illness outbreak on the 152-foot-long vessel since late May. The ship reported an outbreak during a May 26-31 voyage, with nine passengers and three crew members falling ill. Another outbreak occurred on a June 25-30 trip between Juneau and Ketchikan, affecting 20 of 95 people aboard. Of the eight cruise ship outbreaks reported at US ports in 2026, the Sea Bird is the only vessel to have been hit more than once, according to VSP.
