Ruby Princess cruise ship's outbreak of norovirus infects passengers, leaves port after cleaning

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The second Princess Cruises ship to return to Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades after an outbreak of norovirus this weekend left just one hour behind schedule after being disinfected on Sunday afternoon.

The highly contagious stomach illness affected almost 100 passengers on the Ruby Princess, which docked Sunday morning after a seven-day trip to the eastern Caribbean.

The norovirus causes upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea.

The Ruby Princess followed the Saturday return of the Crown Princess following a seven-day cruise to the Southern Caribbean. On that cruise more than 300 people were sickened.

The Ruby Princess was cleaned on Sunday and left around 5 p.m., said Port Everglades spokeswoman Ellen Kennedy. It was scheduled to leave at 4 p.m.

Passengers were informed of the outbreak while they waited to embark at the Broward Convention Center. The cruise line also detailed for them what was being done to clean the ship.

The norovirus is common in the regular population, affecting 1 in 12 people annually. It spreads quickly in small places, such as cruise ships, and is transmitted by contact with an infected person or by touching a surface here the virus is present.