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Virus-hit Sea Princess docks in Freemantle
Having finally completed its 26-day Asian cruise, passengers aboard the Sea Princess have been speaking about conditions after around 100 people were laid low by a gastro-intestinal virus outbreak.
The cruise ship finally docked at Fremantle at the weekend with around 2,000 people aboard.
The outbreak on the ship led one passenger to dub it "the cruise from hell".
Another passenger, Jim Edwards, 56, was struck down a week into the cruise and described it as the worst bout of gastroenteritis he had ever had.
"I couldn’t believe how strong it was, I’m only in my 50s but it took everything out of me and I was worried about the older people as it was knocking them down like flies," he said.
Edwards said all suspected virus cases were asked to stay confined to their cabins and those with more serious symptoms were taken to the ship’s hospital.
Some passengers complained that when boarding at Singapore they were not told of the outbreak, and also believed the number of sickened passengers was much higher than Princess Cruises’ official estimate of 100 people.
A Princess Cruises spokesman said once it discovered the outbreak, more rigorous sanitation methods were implemented.
"The number of new cases quickly fell indicating the problem had been contained," he said.
In addition, bad weather and engine failure added to the problems during the cruise which meant two port calls had to be scrapped.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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