Disney cancels next cruise for ship with 120 people sick

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) _ Disney canceled the next voyage of the cruise ship Magic on Wednesday after dozens of people contracted a flu-like stomach illness this week _ the vessel's second voyage in a row

Thursday, November 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) _ Disney canceled the next voyage of the cruise ship Magic on Wednesday after dozens of people contracted a flu-like stomach illness this week _ the vessel's second voyage in a row where passengers got sick.

Instead of embarking on a week-long Caribbean cruise Saturday, the Magic will remain docked in Port Canaveral while crews clean ``every surface throughout the ship that a guest would come in contact with,'' Disney Cruise Lines spokeswoman Marilyn Waters said.

The Magic was in Cozumel, Mexico, on Wednesday with about 2,400 passengers and 950 crew members. Of those, 104 passengers and 19 crew fell ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The ship was disinfected as recently as Saturday, after 275 people got sick on its last seven-day voyage.

A CDC test confirmed Tuesday that those passengers had the Norwalk virus, a common ailment that can cause diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting for up to two days. The CDC said the virus probably passed from person-to-person aboard the cruises.

Disney has contacted most of the 2,400 people scheduled for Saturday's trip and offered them a full refund and 50 percent off a future cruise, said Disney Cruise Line president Matt Ouimet.

Magic was the third U.S.-based cruise ship pulled from service this year because of passengers getting sick.