Stomach Bug Hits Queen Mary 2 In a statement to ABC News, the cruise line said, "There has been an incidence of a mild gastrointestinal illness among the passengers on Queen Mary 2. This illness is suspected to be Norovirus, which is highly contagious and typically transmitted from person to person. Cunard said there are 19 passengers with "active symptoms" as of Friday. The Centers for Disease Control web site states 194 passengers and 11 crew reported being ill during the voyage. The web site lists the causing agent of the illness as "unknown." The Captain is regularly updating the passengers and crew on the situation and is advising passengers with gastrointestinal symptoms to report to the medical centre. Unwell passengers are asked to comply with the doctor's instructions and isolate themselves in their cabin until non-contagious," the cruise line said. They are also asked not to proceed ashore, and any shore excursion costs will be refunded. Room service is provided to affected passengers and every effort is made to make them as comfortable as possible. Additionally, Cunard told ABC News "enhanced sanitation protocols have been employed to help minimize transmission to other passengers." The Health Protection Agency, a U.K. organization, said the instances of norovirus are 83 percent higher than at this time last year. The ship had arrived in New York after a transatlantic sailing that originated in Southampton, England. There was a similar recent outbreak on a Princess cruise ship. Five percent of all passengers, 166, plus 30 crew, fell ill on the sailing. The ship docked in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Thursday.