Gastro-Struck Cruise Ship Described As "Voyage Of The Damned" Docks In Sydney

Here is your daily dose of nightmare fuel.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, more than 150 passengers and crew of the megaliner Diamond Princess were struck with norovirus gastroenteritis during its journey from New Zealand to Australia.

Yes, gastro.

If you’re thinking, “That doesn’t seem like a very fun cruise,” you’d be right.

Passenger Stephen Dinale told SMH he felt like he was on the “voyage of the damned”, describing people vomiting in pools and running down corridors with their hands covering their bursting mouths.

The Carnival Australia megaliner held about 4,000 passengers on this particular trip. They were informed of the gastro outbreak by the boat’s captain shortly after leaving Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s South Island.

As a precaution to keep the stomach bug from travelling, the pool was drained, rooms were repeatedly cleaned and people were not allowed to serve their own food.

The sick were asked to self-quarantine in their cabins, lest they infect – or gross out - the other passengers.

As to how it all started, it's believed one passenger failed to report the onset of gastro symptoms for a full five days. By doing so, they ultimately allowed the gastro to strike a further 157 people on board.

We're guessing they weren't popular for the remainder of the trip.

The Diamond Princess docked in Sydney this morning, to the relief of surely everyone on board.

According to New South Wales Health authorities, 158 passengers and crew in total were hit by the bug. Ultimately, no patients were admitted to hospital.

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District's public health unit director Professor Mark Ferson also said the outbreak had been contained, and that “the ship has instituted maximum control measures, including increased sanitation, and further cleaning and hygiene procedures will occur prior to passengers arriving on board this afternoon.”

The megaliner will embark on its return journey to New Zealand this afternoon.