Over 300 passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise contracted stomach-related illnesses at sea this past week, it was reported on Saturday.
A cruise ship carrying 5,547 guests departed Port Everglades, Florida on Monday.
The Independence of the Seas set sail for a five-night journey that was bound for Labadee and Jamaica.
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean told NBC News that 332 guests on board fell ill with gastrointestinal sickness likely caused by Norovirus.
Over 300 passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise contracted stomach-related illnesses at sea this past week, it was reported on Saturday
A cruise ship carrying 5,547 guests departed Port Everglades, Florida on Monday. Some of the passengers are seen disembarking the cruise on Saturday
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean told NBC News that 332 guests on board fell ill with gastrointestinal sickness likely caused by Norovirus. The image above shows a sick passenger being wheeled off on a stretcher
The Independence of the Seas set sail for a five-night journey that was bound for Labadee and Jamaica
The company said that it brought in sanitation experts so that it they could implement ‘enhanced sanitary procedures’ that would ‘minimize the risk of a recurrence.’
Initially, the company claimed that 220 passengers fell ill, according to WPLG-TV.
But passengers disputed that claim and said the number of sick guests was actually higher.
Those who were on board the five-night cruise said it was an unpleasant experience.
The company said that it brought in sanitation experts so that it they could implement ‘enhanced sanitary procedures’ that would ‘minimize the risk of a recurrence’
‘It was just terrifying – just the amount of people that were coming in at the same time with vomiting and diarrhea and just looked ghastly,’ a guest, Tracy Flores, said
‘It was just terrifying – just the amount of people that were coming in at the same time with vomiting and diarrhea and just looked ghastly,’ a guest, Tracy Flores, said.
Flores said that her son was one of those passengers who came down with a stomach virus on Wednesday.
Royal Caribbean said that its doctors on board treated the sick passengers with over-the-counter medications.
But passengers said that the large number of sick people was too much for the medical staff on board.
‘We went down to the medical facility and waited over an hour for help,’ passenger Marsha Homuska said.
‘They started running out of water and basic supplies.’
Another passenger, Victoria Nolan of Genesee, New York, said she also got sick on board the cruise, as did six of the 15 relatives that she was with.
Nolan said that Royal Caribbean initially underestimated the number of sick passengers because many did not seek treatment from the overwhelmed medical staff.
Those sick passengers chose to stay in their cabins, according to Nolan.
Nolan said that when she reached the medical area to get treatment, she turned back when she realized the wait was over four hours.
She said she saw people throwing up in the elevators as they tried to get to the doctor.
‘It’s not their fault that it happened, but the way they handled it after people started getting sick made it 10 times worse,’ Nolan said.
Royal Caribbean said that it had taken measures to prevent further outbreaks. The ship is due to embark on another cruise this coming Thursday.