Caribbean cruise ends at SC port after 400 passengers, crew sickened in norovirus outbreak

Cruise ends in SC for liner hit by norovirus

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Hundreds of cruise passengers sickened by a virus while sailing through the Caribbean are finally getting back on solid American ground.

The Celebrity Mercury docked in Charleston early Friday, and passengers began disembarking around 7 a.m.

A spokeswoman says 413 of the more than 2,600 passengers and crew members complained of upset stomachs, vomiting or diarrhea sometime during the 11-day voyage.

Federal health officials say tests confirm it was a norovirus outbreak. The virus can spread quickly in closed quarters.

Passenger Marge Ritter of Myrtle Beach says she was sick for about 24 hours but praised the crew for taking steps to keep the virus from spreading further.

The ship will be cleaned before leaving with 1,900 passengers on another cruise later Friday.