Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas returns to Port Canaveral after norovirus outbreak

Passengers on the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas disembarked Saturday morning after having their cruise disrupted by a norovirus outbreak on the ship earlier this week. 

Out of the approximately 6,200 on board the ship, 402 people contracted the norovirus, an infection sometimes referred to as the "stomach flu" that can cause diarrhea and vomiting for up to three days. 

More:Norovirus cases double on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas before early arrival

William Gleed came from London with his wife and 1-year-old daughter for a Honeymoon trip. Although the family went to Orlando-area theme parks as well, Gleed said the cruise was meant to be the centerpiece of the trip. 

"It started off great. We went to Haiti. It was lovely," Gleed said. "It all went wrong in Jamaica. None of us were allowed off the ship." 

"To be honest, for the last four days, we've kind of felt like caged dogs."

Along with hand sanitizer stations posted throughout the ship's public spaces, Gleed was glad to have plenty of his own, especially with a young child. 

"It was meant to be our honeymoon, but it's turned into a living hell," Gleed said. 

Gleed and other passengers agreed that Royal Caribbean handled the situation well under the circumstances.

Diane Bender said she wasn't disappointed with the way things unfolded, adding that the cruise became an adventure in its own right. 

"It was a good trip. We had a great time," Bender said, adding that she was happy with the way the outbreak was handled by Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean officials reported Thursday evening that 250 people on board had become ill after the ship's stop in Haiti. Stops in Jamaica and Cozumel, Mexico were cancelled for an early return Saturday at 4:30 a.m. when the ship made its way to Port Canaveral. 

Sick passengers were immediately quarantined when the outbreak began as staff began sterilizing the ship.

More:Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas cruise ship hit with Norovirus in Jamaica

"They were stringent about hand washing and cleaning down everything constantly: railing, rooms, changing sheets all the time," Bender said. "As long as you washed your hands, you were good." 

According to Royal Caribbean officials, affected passengers had their movie and room service fees waived after they were asked to remain in their quarters for the rest of the trip. All Royal Caribbean cruises are staffed with medical personnel and at least one doctor. 

Sick passengers also disembarked the cruise separately to prevent further risk of spreading the virus, officials said.

All passengers on board were given full refunds by Royal Caribbean. The Oasis of the Seas will be fully sanitized and ready to disembark for its next scheduled cruise Sunday afternoon.