Stomach virus strikes more than 200 on Royal Caribbean cruise

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. (Royal Caribbean)

Royal Caribbean said Saturday that 220 people on board one of its Caribbean cruise ships fell ill with a stomach virus during its voyage.

A passenger told WSVN that people began to show symptoms on Wednesday, two days after the Independence of the Seas departed from Port Everglades, Florida.

We went down to the medical facility and waited over an hour for help. They started running out of water and basic supplies."

— Marsha Homuska, a passenger

Royal Caribbean said those affected were treated with over-the-counter medication provided by the ship's doctors. The cruise line also encouraged passengers and crew members to wash their hands frequently in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading.

The Independence of the Seas returned to Port Everglades on Saturday morning after a five-day trip. Disembarking passengers claimed the number of cases overwhelmed the medical staff.

"We went down to the medical facility and waited over an hour for help," Marsha Homuska told WPLG. "They started running out of water and basic supplies."

Another passenger, Victoria Nolan, told WPLG that victims were vomiting in the ship's elevators as they tried to get to the doctor. Nolan added that she gave up trying to get to the medical area after she was told the wait would be more than four hours.

Royal Caribbean said the cases represented less than 5 percent of the 5,547 people aboard.