14 Passengers Get Sick On Carnival's Cruise To Cuba

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- More than a dozen passengers aboard the historic first cruise ship to Cuba in decades returned to South Florida Sunday feeling a bit under the weather.

The ship, the Carnival Adonia, part of the company's new Fathom fleet, pulled into port around 6:30 a.m. as passengers recovered from an illness.

"I didn't know anybody that was sick. We just got an announcement from the captain," said one passenger.

With more than 700 passengers on board, 14 returned suffering from stomach-related symptoms. It's suspected to be the norovirus, although that has not been confirmed.

The ill passengers were all treated onboard.

"I didn't really see that much of a problem, personally. But I heard a couple people talking about it. In most cases, it lasted one or two days," said passenger Doug Carson.

Despite the incident, most passengers said the cruise to Cuba was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"Now I can tell you what it's like to be The Rolling Stones, and when you get out of your car and there are hundreds of people waiting for you. That's exactly what it was," said Celia Mena.

Even experienced travelers noticed.

"The warmest reception we've ever received at any port in the world, and we've cruised over 30 times," said Carson, who lives with his wife in West Palm Beach. "What we saw on the various tours was obviously choreographed but then it was open. We had free time to move around in the cities."

It was a week ago that the ship left South Florida on its journey to Cuba, marking the first time in fifty years that an American vessel has traveled to the island nation.

The Fathom Adonia will be making trips to Cuba every other Sunday.