Dozens of passengers become ill on Royal Caribbean cruise ship

BALTIMORE -- Nearly 50 people have fallen sick on a cruise ship that departed from Baltimore last week. Royal Caribbean Cruises spokesman Owen Torres told The Baltimore Sun 46 cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported aboard the Grandeur of the Seas ship.

The 2,900-passenger cruise left Baltimore on Jan. 2 for a nine-day trip with stops in South Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas. It was scheduled to set sail back to Baltimore on Thursday, but now won't until Saturday because of a mechanical error. 

Torres said the cause of the illness is unknown. The ship's doctors have treated those affected by the illness with over-the-counter medication. Torres said no new illnesses had been reported as of Thursday morning.

Last month, about 500 passengers on two separate Royal Caribbean cruises also fell sick. CBS Miami reports one of the ships, the Independence of the Seas, docked in Ft. Lauderdale after people complained of gastrointestinal issues.