Bayonne cruise ship has weather, virus problems

BAYONNE – Anthem of the Seas, the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship that was criticized earlier this month for sailing following a forecast of a strong storm at sea, has turned around and is headed back to its Bayonne homeport to avoid a similar storm.
Anthem is due back in Bayonne on Wednesday morning.
The ship has additional problems this time, according to a report by The Associated Press. There is a norovirus outbreak aboard the vessel, and employees are busy disinfecting much of it to avoid the spread of the illness, the news agency said.
In the previous incident on Feb. 6, Anthem left Bayonne on its way to the Bahamas and encountered winds estimated at up to100 miles per hour and 30-foot-high waves off the coast of North Carolina before turning around and heading back. The ship was damaged and four people were reported injured.
Passengers on that trip have filed suit against the cruise line.
Anthem is the third largest cruise ship in the world, and has called Bayonne home since November.

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