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MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) — A Royal Caribbean cruise ship carrying nearly 100 people sick with norovirus docked in Florida on Thursday.
The Serenade of the Seas docked at PortMiami after a nearly two-week journey from San Diego.
The norovirus outbreak on the ship was first reported to the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program on Sunday, Sept. 28.
The CDC’s latest report states that 94 of 1,874 passengers, or 5%, said they became ill during the voyage. The illness affected four of 883 crew members, or 0.5%. Most people affected reported experiencing diarrhea and vomiting.
NBC affiliate WTVJ spoke with some of the passengers as they were leaving the ship Thursday.
One passenger, Margie, said she knew something was wrong when she “started feeling really funny” in her stomach. However, her symptoms didn’t last too long.
“It only lasted like 36-48 hours,” Margie said. “It was all good because they gave you free room service, and they took good care of you.”
Other passengers noted seeing increased sanitary measures, with food being brought to them instead of self-serving options, and all plates, silverware, and condiments off limits.
“When I say cleaning, they started on the bottom and worked to the top and then you would see them coming down again. All over, everywhere,” said Leslie Nilsen.
The majority of passengers were relatively unaffected. But it wasn’t smooth sailing for everyone.
Passenger Bob Pettit said, “I’m 87 years old, I’ve never been this sick in my life.”
Crew members began a full sanitation of the ship as passengers disembarked Thursday. The ship was expected to depart later Thursday to Panama on a seven-day cruise.