Port Turns Away Sick Cruise Ship

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The past Friday, a number of passengers were diagnosed with norovirus onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Gem, which cause the ship to be turned away from St. Maarten.

According to a statement by St. Maarten, “On Friday, March 18, a number of passengers on-board Norwegian Gem Cruise Ship was infected with an infectious virus. The vessel was boarded outside Port St. Maarten and was boarded by a Port Control Team that also included officials from the Ministry of Public Health and the Shipping & Maritime Authority, to gather further information with respect to the on-board virus.”

The release went on to say, “While onboard, the Port Control Team were informed of additional cases, and based on this information and after further evaluation, it was decided in the interests of public health that the passengers and crew should not disembark. The causative agent at the time of inspection was unknown and the Captain was advised to return to homeport for vessel sanitation procedures.”

The ship was turned away.

Norwegian Gem is based out of NYC.

Image: Flickr/Michel Charron

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