More than 150 Diamond Princess passengers and crew have reportedly suffering from gastrointestinal illness GI on the ships most resent voyage.The cruise ship docked this morning at Circular Quay in Sydney’s passenger terminal with 158 people affected by the Norovirus according to NSW Health Authorities.The pool was drained empty during the cruise as a precaution measure.Reportedly ship’s captain made announcement on the loudspeakers advising sick passengers to stay in their cabins.Sydney Local Health District's said that none of the passengers required hospitalization and there was no need for medical disembarkations.Diamond Princess crew is performing deep special cleaning to all ships public facilities including increased sanitation in order to provide safe environment for the new passengers arriving on board this afternoon.Diamond Princess returned from a 12-day cruise from Sydney to New Zealand.In Australia there were three reported cruise ship Norovirus outbreaks in December alone.
- P&O Pacific Eden was struck by norovirus with reported 50 cases of the 1500 people onboard.
- Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas was struck by norovirus with reported 182 cases out of the 3566 people on board
- Princess Cruises Dawn Princess, 200 people were confined to their cabins after the cruise ship left Melbourne to New Zealand.