The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saidthe 684 sick passengers on the 137,000-gt Explorer of the Seas (built 2000) is the highestnumber reported in two decades.

At least 630 passengers and 54 cruise workers gotsick, but not all at the same time, CNN reported.

RCL said the entire ship will undergo a"thorough 'barrier' sanitisation program ... to make certain that anyremaining traces of the illness are eliminated."

"It