Cruise Passengers Stricken by Stomach Virus

More than 200 passengers aboard a Caribbean cruise were affected by a gastrointestinal illness, according to ABC News.

Royal Caribbean International confirmed that 220 guests on board the Independence of the Seas, which has been sailing a five-night itinerary in the Caribbean and was scheduled to return to Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday morning were affected by the outbreak.

"Independence of the Seas is currently on a five-night Caribbean cruise, which departed Port Everglades, Florida on December 11," wrote Royal Caribbean in a statement to ABC News on Friday. "Over the week, 220 cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported—representing 4.86 percent of the 5,547 guests and crew onboard."

MORE Impacting Travel

Dominican Republic COVID-19 Tests Adversely Impact...

Airlines See an Increase in Summer Travel Alongside Mask...

COVID-19 Surge Prompts Bahamas Lockdown

The cruise line also told ABC that affected passengers were treated by ship’s doctors with over-the-counter medications.

“[We] hope all our guests feel better quickly,” read the statement.

The cruise line also said it is undertaking “intensive sanitary procedures” and “special additional cleaning procedures” before it’s next departure.

READ MORE: How Cruise Ships Battle Norovirus

The outbreak is the second-such incident for Royal Caribbean in less than a month. In early December, nearly 200 passengers were treated for gastrointestinal issues onboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, during a two-week sailing from Singapore to Sydney.

During that breakout, a representative from the Tasmanian Health Service told ABC that "it's not unusual for gastroenteritis outbreaks to occur aboard cruise ships, just as it is within the normal population."

Follow @MonicaPoling