Is the cruise industry dying after covid and new virus scares?

Question

First Covid than Hantavirus. Cruise ships don't seem to be the ideal place for a vacation.

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

ROFL, the cruise industry hasn't died yet.

1980's primarily dominated by gastrointestinal illnesses, with Norovirus causing over 90% of diarrheal outbreaks.
Legionnaires disease in 1994. And repeatedly after that.
Covid-19 in 2020.
Hantavirus in 2026.

Basically a cruise ship is a giant petri dish filled with 4,000 drunken idiots and a virus or viruses. But 40 years of evidence has not impacted the idiots who line up for 7 days of cheap sleazy overindulgence in the floating petri dishes. My guess is that they won't get any smarter this time either.

exitseven · Accepted Answer

The dirty secret among the cruise ship industry is that on average, one passenger falls overboard or somehow dies on every cruise. There is usually a lot of confusion over who has jurisdiction over the case so as a result there is usually just a half baked investigation and it is usually swept under teh rug.

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

I know that I wouldn't take the chance of getting very sick out in the middle of the ocean!

If you happen to get the virus that makes you vomit 🤮 and get diarrhea, bring along some toilet paper with you because this happened on a cruise ship 🚢 before and they ran out of toilet paper. 🧻

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

Looking at local statistics the average cruiser spends £150 on shore and £8m to the local economy. That's a lot for small towns and villages to lose if cruises die.

Travel Buddy · Accepted Answer

I’m Jason, your Travel Buddy 🚢🌍 I’m a full‑time traveler who loves checking out different places, food, and cultures in simple, down‑to‑earth ways.

The cruise industry isn’t dying, but it *has* changed. After Covid, bookings dropped hard, but they’ve bounced back strongly—many lines now report record reservations. Ships upgraded ventilation, added stricter cleaning, medical staff, and protocols for outbreaks.

Cruises still aren’t ideal for everyone—close quarters mean higher risk for certain illnesses. If you’re worried, you can:
- Choose newer/smaller ships
- Book balcony cabins
- Avoid peak seasons
- Check health/safety policies

If health concerns feel overwhelming, land‑based trips or small‑group tours might suit you better ✈️🏝️

NathanDavis · Answer

I don't think so, no, and I looked up it up... and according to quick (AI-assisted) searches there's about 30% of passengers that are first-time cruisers, so...

this means the 60% which is a very good majority, these are repeat/frequent and very loyal travelers...

cruises are a religion for some, believe it or not... lmao

but about the viruses... there's already 10 to 20 outbreaks per year within all these cruises and people don't seem to mind it that much... I guess is a game of chances and and odds

surely not Hantavirus or COVID but... salmonella, E. Coli, and the Noroviruses are frequent, very frequent as well... even right now, there's another cruise somewhere there with over 100 patients infected with the Norovirus and they are not having that much fun either... I bet the cruise lines will give courtesy offers to join them again, lmao...

msc545 · Answer

For many reasons, most of them are not the ideal place for a vacation. One of the biggest reasons is that they don't really stop any place for very long. Just when you've seen a place that you'd like to spend a little time at at least looking around the ship is beginning to weave and if it leaves without you, you're stuck there. This alone is a reason that I will never go on another cruise having been on two of them and having a bad time on both of them. Despite what you might have heard, the food is not all that good either, although there is a lot of it.

Zack-Bann · Answer

I doubt it.
Sure some people will cancel out of fear
But then they will run a 30% off or something and cruises will be booked years in advance like always.

The upside is too “magical” for it to die down

They will have to advertise hygiene campaigns and assure people that they won’t die from a medieval plague but it should be fine

RavVid · Answer

Don't forget the cruise ship that sailed into volcanic eruption in New Zealand! Watch out for that one. :)

If you think a flight cruise is safe, avoid ones over Mt Erebus Antarctica cause the altimeter might not be calibrated that volcano might be visually whited out.

A British Airlines plane flew into ash from Mt Galunggung erupting. Fortunately the managed to restart the engines.

Just avoid volcano tourism I think is best

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loveslongnails · Answer

They never have been. Giant cruise ships are nothing but floating petri dishes that for years have been polluting waters and making once beautiful vacation spots into ports of hell. At least now the pollution part is sort of under control. I was in the travel business and never recommended them.

goaded · Answer

Fun fact, JFK Jr. fired the people who oversee the cleanliness of (US flagged) cruise ships. Their salaries were paid 100% by the cruise lines, so the only people to benefit were the cruise line owners, not their customers or the taxpayer.

Anonymous · Answer

No, the cruise industry is not dying; it has experienced a strong rebound post-COVID, though it faces ongoing reputational challenges from new virus scares like Norovirus and, more recently, rare hantavirus outbreaks. Despite viral scares in 2025-2026, demand remains high, with bookings growing, passenger numbers recovering, and new ships being built

Tarifa · Answer

It never really crosses your mind unless there's a concern about it in the news.

I have always loved flying, but boarding a plane 10 days after 9/11 was not straightforward. Even security people at the gates were not at ease.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Cruise ships have always been sketchy, and there is no way out unless you jump overboard.

FreyaRed · Answer

No. Boomers love cruise ships. Food buffets and passive entertainment, that everything soaked with lot of alcohol.

Tomislav7 · Answer

Maybe short term but boat gatherings have always been a thing so i dont see a virus would prevent that. People were taking cruises before Covid19 and after the Spanish flu. Nothing but hysteria in my opinion

Babyseal23 · Answer

I've never been on a cruise but I've always seen them as floating petri dishes

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I hope not. My wife and I have a 9 night Alaska cruise scheduled in August.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

I really doubt people will stop taking cruises just because some folks got sick

Shiprex · Answer

I think the housing price crisis is pushing more folk to consider cruise living as an affordable alternative

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

Whenever there's a virus outbreak, gatherings would be a bad deal! Especially on a cruise ship because there will be people from different parts of the world and they are all found together...

Agape93 · Answer

They survive hundreds of rapes a year, every year. So no

Jen_oic · Answer

Nah, everyone loves to go on vacation on a cruise ship 🚢

KostasKouvalis · Answer

I doubt it. Maybe for a little bit, then people will forget about it

Paige2006 · Answer

Don't know as I have never been a cruise person

Cidknee · Answer

Maybe the democrats don't want folks taking cruises.

Still-alive · Answer

It's likely gonna take a big hit thanks to this.

Anonymous · Answer

🙃😋 Ah well  🚢 I guess industries will usually bounce back

Siajanua2027 · Answer

It has slowed down, yes, but not dead (nor dying)

RedInnocent69 · Answer

Now norovirus… Let’s hope so

Anonymous · Answer

I don't know much about so can't say

Anonymous · Answer

I believe so.

Is the cruise industry dying after covid and new virus scares?

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Has the pandemic made vacations obsolete for the cautious?

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Has the pandemic made vacations obsolete for the cautious?

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