The 57,000-gt Veendam (built 1996) docked in Sydney Harbour on Wednesday.

By that time the number of sick had been reduced to five people.

The vessel had started its cruise in Montreal and stopped in Quebec City and Charlottetown.

Special precautions have been in place aboard the vessel to ensure the illness does not spread further.

Health Canada said the incident was not considered an outbreak because it had a cumulative rate of less than 3% of the ship's population.