St. Petersburg, FLAn outbreak of intestinal illness that has sickened about 150 people caused a Royal Caribbean
cruise to return to port in Tampa, Florida today. The ship,
The Radiance of the Seas, returned from a 5-day trip to Mexico that began January 3.
Those passengers infected complained of severe stomach cramps, throwing up, diarrhea, achy body, inability to move, and headache. They were given over-the-counter medication.
A spokesperson for the cruise lines said stomach flu, which is highly contagious, is suspected and the cruise line issued a statement saying it has high health standards for all guests and crew and that Norovirus is an extremely common gastrointestinal illness. The ship will be completely sanitized before the next sailing is scheduled this evening to help prevent any further illness. "If you have experienced any gastrointestinal symptoms during the past three days, we ask that you please consider rescheduling your cruise," the company told passengers.