TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A cruise ship that departed Florida has been hit by a norovirus outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reported that 94 people fell ill on the Holland America Line cruise ship Rotterdam during its voyage between Dec. 28, 2025, and Jan. 9, 2026.

Those affected by the norovirus outbreak showed the typical symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

The virus, which is highly contagious, is the number 1 cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms appear between 12 and 48 hours after exposure and can include other symptoms like stomach pain, headaches, and fevers.

According to the CDC, 85 passengers out of 2,593 reported being sick. Nine of the 1,005 crew members reported being ill as well.

The CDC said Holland America Line and the Rotterdam crew increased cleaning and disinfection measures and quarantined those who fell ill to prevent the disease from spreading further.

CruiseMapper.com showed that the ship departed Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 28. The cruise line’s website also has several future voyages out of Fort Lauderdale as well.

8 On Your Side has reached out to Holland America for more information on the outbreak.

The legislative session is set to begin Jan. 13.

• Florida lawmakers have filed several bills for the 2026 legislative session to strengthen religious expression rights.
• One proposed bill would protect employees from being disciplined over religious beliefs against “gender ideology.”
• Another measure seeks to amend the state constitution to protect students and staff who express religious beliefs in public schools.

The First Amendment’s freedom of religious expression is appearing among a variety of bills in Florida’s upcoming legislative session, set to begin Jan. 13.

Specifically, lawmakers filed bills for the 2026 session that would create new Florida law or amend the state’s Constitution in efforts to strengthen the right of religious expression.

No doubt some advocates will disagree.

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For instance, one bill called the “Freedom of Conscience in the Workplace Act,” proposed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood, would ban employers from disciplining employees based on deeply held religious beliefs against “gender ideology.”

It was introduced last year and died in committee, and Equality Florida said at the time that the measure doubled down on “anti-transgender rhetoric.”

Some of these measures come in response to a conservative push to counter LGBTQ+ positions seen as in conflict with deeply-held religious beliefs. A notable decision for this cause came from the U.S. Supreme Court, after it said public school parents could exempt their children from discussions on LGBTQ+ issues in classrooms.

Republicans enter the 60-day session having an advantage of a supermajority in Florida’s House and Senate, since votes along party lines could advance the conservative-led push uplifting religious beliefs.

More: Florida attorney general sparks debate on religious discrimination

Religious expression bills filed for 2026 Florida legislative session

Here’s a list of bills and resolutions, as of Jan. 9, filed so far that include religious expression measures:

• HJR 583 (filed by Rep. Chase Tramont, R-Port Orange, and Berny Jacques, R-Clearwater): A resolution that would amend the state constitution to provide protection from discrimination for students and school personnel who express religious beliefs in public schools.
• HB 641 (filed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Longwood): Would prohibit employers from disciplining employees or contractors due to “deeply held religious, moral, conscience-based, or biology-based beliefs against gender ideology.”
• HB 835 (filed by Rep. David Borrero, R-Doral): Would prohibit schools from discriminating against students or school personnel based on political, religious or ideological viewpoint expression.
• HB 1227 (filed by Rep. Vanessa Oliver, R-Punta Gorda): Would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or enforcing ordinances, regulations, resolutions or rules that could substantially burden free exercise of religion.