Virus outbreak on the Ruby Princess is being reported

[Host Mike]

"Dozens of passengers and crew members aboard a Princess Cruises ship have come down with a gastrointestinal illness, the cruise line confirmed Friday.

Princess Cruises said 78 passengers and eight crew members aboard the Ruby Princess have been affected by the illness, which the cruise line suspects to be norovirus.

The ship is on a seven-day cruise Caribbean cruise that left Fort Lauderdale Saturday. "

http://www.local10.com/news/Dozens-become-ill-aboard-Princess-cruise-ship/-/1717324/8593064/-/fa8q9mz/-/

[Host Mike]

"FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Yet another cruise ship has been hit by the tenacious Norovirus, a gastro-intestinal bug that spreads fast and leaves misery behind. This time, it has struck a Princess Cruise Lines ship headed for Ft. Lauderdale, and the line is warning passengers on the next voyage.

The Ruby Princess is returning from a 7-day cruise to the Caribbean, and is scheduled to dock at Port Everglades Sunday morning. A new batch of passengers is set to leave Sunday afternoon, but starting Thursday those passengers were sent an “emergency notification” from the cruise line saying their departure would be delayed by a Norovirus attack.

“It will be necessary for the ship to undergo a prolonged and additional disinfection in Port Everglades on Sunday,” the line said in it’s message to passengers, a copy of which was supplied to cbsmiami.com."

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/02/03/south-florida-bound-princess-ship-hit-by-norovirus/

[Host Mike]

"The Ruby Princess Cruise Ship arrived at Port Everglades just after 6 a.m. Sunday morning. On board, a reported 92 passengers and 13 crew members who were infected with norovirus.

One passenger told Local 10, "I was very disappointed--this will be my last cruise with Princess Cruise Line."

The outbreak of the norovirus also spread to the Crown Princess Cruise ship.  On board,  there were a reported 150 sick passengers and crew members."

http://www.local10.com/news/Ruby-Princess-returns-after-passengers-crew-struck-with-norovirus/-/1717324/8597868/-/yhsglp/-/index.html

[nabs14]

I see the Ruby Princess was able to leave much earlier today than the Crown Princess left last night.  Crown didn't leave until about 10:45 PM last night.  Today the Ruby was on her way out of port at 5:20 PM today.