14 DAY TRIAL // More than 100 passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship have become ill while on a trip, forcing the ship to return to Port Everglades, Florida.
The Vision of the Seas has docked after 105 of its 1,991 guests became ill with a stomach virus. Three members of the ship's staff of 772 have also contracted the illness, KY Post reports.
The company put out a statement explaining why the cruise liner was turned around. Officials describe that guests and staff have experienced symptoms similar to those brought on by norovirus.
“Vision of the Seas experienced an elevated number of persons with a gastrointestinal illness on its last sailing,” Royal Caribbean International reps state.
While the virus affects some 300 people around the globe each year, in this case it was responsive to over-the-counter medication provided onboard.
“Norovirus is a very contagious virus. You can get norovirus from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces.
“The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed (acute gastroenteritis). This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up,” it is described by the Centers for Disease Control on their website.
The cruise ship was getting back from an 11-night journey in the Caribbean. Among the locations it visited were Oranjestad in Aruba, Roseau in Dominica and Bridgetown in Barbados, ABC News details.
The company claims it has performed thorough sanitizing on the ship after the trip, as well as during it. They are also checking with passengers to see if they have experienced anymore symptoms.
“At Royal Caribbean International we have high health standards for all our guests and crew. [...] During the sailing, we conduct enhanced cleaning onboard the ship, to help prevent the spread of the illness.
“Guests received a letter at boarding that asks if they have experienced any gastrointestinal symptoms within the last three days,” officials say.