The Daily Telegraph From Perth Now

180 passengers on board the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas have been struck down with gastro.
A stomach bug has struck down more than 180 cruise ship passengers and crew on a Royal Caribbean liner that has docked at Sydney’s Circular Quay this morning.

The Explorer of the Seas arrived at around 6am with Royal Caribbean confirming 182 cases of a gastrointestinal illness among guests and crew of the 14-night trip.

A Royal Caribbean spokeswoman said the outbreak of Norovirus hit 182 passengers and crew after the Explorer of the Seas after it left Sydney for a two week round trip to New Zealand on December 2.

“Explorer of the Seas has experienced an increased level of gastrointestinal illness amongst guests and crew on its most recent 14-night sailing,” the spokeswoman said.

“A total of 182 cases among passengers and crew was experienced. Those affected by the short-lived illness have responded well to over-the-counter medication administered onboard the ship.”

The cruise ship was carrying 3,566 passengers and 1,139 crew before it arrived in Sydney this morning.

The spokeswoman said the cruise liner would be cleaned bow to stern before passengers boarded again.

“ We have reported this to South East Sydney Local Health District and while docked in Sydney the ship and terminal will undergo an enhanced cleaning and sanitisation to prevent any illness affecting future cruises,” the spokeswoman said.

“All new guests embarking will receive a letter at boarding that asks them to advise if they have experienced any gastrointestinal symptoms within the last three days.

“At Royal Caribbean International we have high health standards for all our guests and crew.”

With more than three per cent of the ship’s passengers struck down with the stomach bug, it is a legal obligation that health authorities be alerted.

The outbreak started on December 5 and peaked on December 11 and 12, but has since been decreasing, NSW health authorities told AAP

A passenger told 9 News “just about everybody was sick”

“Every time you walked in and out of the corridors there’d be all the medics going in and out of all of the rooms,” the passenger said.

For more on this story go to: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/180-royal-caribbean-explorer-of-the-seas-passengers-struck-down-with-gastro/news-story/7be2a6dabd6ffc7f4b483c6399e53753