Passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship returned Friday claiming a virus outbreak aboard the ship. (Source: CBS4/Summer Knowles)
PORT EVERGLADES (CBSMiami) – It wasn’t the dream cruise, Joan Webber expected when she booked her trip on Royal Caribbean’s ‘Vision of the Seas.’
“I’m just disappointed,” Webber said as she got off the ship Friday morning after it docked at Port Everglades.
Webber says hundreds of people were sick during the cruise with the norovirus.
“They’ve done well trying to contain it, but it’s gone wild,” said Webber.
Passengers tell us the the captain announced soon after departure two Monday’s ago that there’d been an outbreak of the norovirus.
The norovirus is a highly contagious illness with symptoms including dizziness nausea and diarrhea.
Johny Celaire told us he was quarantined in his cabin for two days.
“I’ve been vomiting since Tuesday night. I’ve made 28 trips to the bathroom. I didn’t enjoy my cruise. I went to customer service and they said, ‘if you had washed your hands, you’d be okay.”
Royal Caribbean issued this statement on the incident:
“Vision of the Seas experienced an elevated number of persons with a gastrointestinal illness on its last sailing. 105 guests and 3 crew members experienced the illness thought to be norovirus. Those affected by the short lived illness have responded well to over-the-counter medication.
When Vision of the Seas arrived we conducted an extensive and thorough sanitizing onboard the ship and within the cruise terminal.”
The ship had a quick turnaround. A new trip has begun and CBS 4 talked to passengers boarding Friday afternoon on whether they had any fears about the norovirus.
One woman who didn’t want to give her name told us she received an email from Royal Caribbean two days ago which said, ”don’t come til later, because we’re sanitizing the ship.”
She also informed us that she had brought with her Lysol disinfectant and wipes, to be extra safe.
Eileen and Mark Stapleton said they had flown in from New Jersey for the trip. They were unaware of the outbreak.
“This is like you’re being punked, right?” said Eileen Stapleton.
When she found out it was true, she said she had no worries about travelling on board the ship.
“Nah, I have good sanitizer, I’m good!”
“You can get the virus anywhere. You can get it on a boat or in your house, it is what it is,” said Mark Stapleton.
Passengers did have the option of re-booking.
Vision of the Seas will be gone for ten nights.
