Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Dozens On Royal Caribbean Forcing San Diego Docking

A Royal Caribbean spokesman said one of its cruise ships has sickened at least two dozen passengers with norovirus.

The sick people disembarked the Royal Caribbean Azamara Quest in San Diego early Thursday morning around 5:30 a.m., authorities said.

The cruise ship docked in San Diego Bay after reports emerged of dozens of passengers and several crew members suffering from symptoms of the nasty virus.

According to Owen Torres, a Royal Caribbean spokesman, “All other guest have recovered and were treated by our ship’s doctors and responded well with over-the-counter medication,” Torres stated. “We are taking steps to do a full barrier sanitation cleaning of the ship before she departs on Thursday, February 8 for next cruise,” Torres said.

“We encouraged our guests and crew to wash their hands often, which health experts recommend as the best defense against stomach viruses, which each year affect as many as 300 million people worldwide—only the common cold is more prevalent.”