Officials in Mauritius prevented a Norwegian Cruise Line ship from docking on Sunday after approximately 15 passengers onboard the Norwegian Dawn fell ill with a stomach-related illness. The decision to keep the ship from the quay was made in order to prevent any potential health risks, as stated by the Mauritius Ports Authority. The sick passengers are currently in isolation and undergoing testing for an undisclosed "health risk."

The Norwegian Cruise Line reported that those affected experienced mild symptoms of the illness. The cause of the outbreak has not been disclosed yet. Due to additional testing required by local authorities, the disembarkation and embarkation schedules for the ship have been delayed by two days by the government of Mauritius.

The Norwegian Dawn, carrying over 2,100 passengers and 1,000 crew members, was scheduled to dock in Mauritius, but the passengers who were set to complete their journey on Sunday had to be relocated to available hotels. Meanwhile, more than 2,200 new passengers were supposed to board the ship.

The ports authority mentioned that the passengers who were supposed to start their cruise on Sunday were unable to do so on that day and would be accommodated in hotels. The cruise line confirmed that their management team met with local authorities to ensure the well-being of all onboard.

Gastrointestinal illnesses are not uncommon on cruise ships due to the close living spaces that facilitate the spread of viruses. However, such outbreaks are monitored by public health officials. Recently, a Celebrity Cruises ship reported an outbreak of norovirus which affected 92 passengers and eight crew members.

The Norwegian Dawn is expected to be allowed to dock on Tuesday once the results of the tests conducted on Sunday are available.