Update, Tuesday Jan 15: Royal Caribbean confirmed that the number of passengers affected by the Norovirus outbreak has risen to 402.
More than 270 passengers have reportedly fallen ill with Norovirus on Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas.
Passengers were kept on board for hours after it docked at Falmouth port in Jamaica on Wednesday (January 9).
The ship was on a seven-night cruise through the Caribbean, but passengers have been told they will have their cruise fares refunded in full following the outbreak.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Travel Weekly: “Oasis of the Seas will return to Port Canaveral [in Florida] a day early after an episode of gastrointestinal illness.
“A total of 277 guests and crew members have been affected since the ship departed on January 6 — about 3.3 percent of the people aboard the ship.
“All of the ship’s guests will receive full refunds of their cruise fare paid.
“We think the right thing to do is to get everyone home early rather than have guests worry about their health. Returning on Saturday also gives us more time to completely clean and sanitize the ship before her next sailing.
“Our guests sail with us to have great holidays, and we are sorry this cruise fell short.”
Passenger Alan Thomas tweeted: “Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. We’re docked at Falmouth Jamaica. Level 3 Norovirus outbreak. 100+ passengers and a crew member sick. Canceled shore excursion. Waiting to see if Jamaican authorities let us off the ship.#refund #lostvacation #disappointed #royalcarribean.”
Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. We’re docked at Falmouth Jamaica. Level 3 Norovirus outbreak. 100+ passengers and a crew member sick. Canceled shore excursion. Waiting to see if Jamaican authorities let us off the ship. #refund#lostvacation#disappointed#royalcarribean
— Alan Thomas (@alan_thomas13) January 9, 2019