Second Cruise Ship with Norovirus Outbreak Arrives in Port Everglades

The second of two cruise ships struck with a norovirus outbreak finally arrived in Port Everglades Sunday morning with many passengers desperate to get back to their normal lives after a vacation gone awry.

 

When the Ruby Princess docked in Fort Lauderdale Sunday morning passengers, some of whom also had a case of cabin fever, spoke with NBC Miami about the ordeal.

 

"It was really terrible the way the people treated us in the medical center," said passenger Jack Chen of Los Angeles.  

 

Chen says the line to get help was so long he was forced to stay cooped up in his cabin for 8 hours.

 

But others were pleased with the steps taken to enforce strict sanitary measures, like doing away with buffet-style dinners.

 

The CDC says norovirus is spread from person to person through contaminated food, drink or surfaces, forcing the elimination of the popular buffets on cruise ships.

 

"They would hand us our plate our utensils, they would get the food for us, whatever you ask for," passenger Doug Carter of Utah said.

 

According to Princess Cruises, a total of 263 passengers and crew members on both ships came down with the contagious virus on their respective 7-day Caribbean trips.

 

While cruise lines like to think the experiences gained on the sea will never be forgotten, it’s not likely that they want some passengers to remember what they went through this time around.

 

"Vomiting huge amounts like a half a trash can full," said passenger Karen True from Denver.

 

"It took them 9 hours to respond," added passenger Sal Palumbo from Sarasota.

 

Palumbo, who's also a travel agent, said this will be her last Princess cruise.

 

"Never, never. I'll never sail Princess again."

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