COVID-19 cases cut cruise short, cancel other sailings

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The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship sails to PortMiami, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Miami. The ship left on Monday on an 11-day trip to the Panama Canal, but it had to return after several crew and staff tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Passengers disembark the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Miami. The ship left on Monday on an 11-day trip to the Panama Canal, but it had to return after several crew and staff tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Passengers look out from the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, as it sails back to PortMiami in Miami. The ship left on Monday on an 11-day trip to the Panama Canal, but it had to return after several crew and staff tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Kim Newton and her husband Matt Daly of Surf City, N.C., wait for a taxi after Norwegian cruise line cancelled their vacation on the Getaway ship with short notice, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Miami. Daly and Newton are on their honeymoon. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Jim Harvey holds on to his bags and he and his wife Anita, second from right, of Ocala, Fla., wait for a taxi after disembarking from the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Miami. The ship left on Monday on an 11-day trip to the Panama Canal, but it had to return after several crew and staff tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

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Cheryl and Forest Rogers wait for a taxi after disembarking from the Norwegian Pearl, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, in Miami. The ship left on Monday on a trip to the Panama Canal, but it had to return after several crew and staff tested positive for COVID-19. Rogers said all passengers had to show a negative test before going on the ship. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

MIAMI (AP) — Hundreds of passengers who embarked on an 11-day cruise from Miami were returned to port Wednesday after less than two days at sea because several dozen crew members got infected with COVID-19.

The pandemic also prompted a last-minute cancelation of another cruise that was scheduled to depart Wednesday. Norwegian Cruise Line said it was canceling sailings on eight of its ships in the U.S. and abroad to protect the health and safety of guests, crew members and communities.

Cheryl Rogers, of Starke, Florida, was among the passengers that were returned to Miami on the Norwegian Pearl, which had only left port Monday. Rogers says travelers were told crew members fell ill with the coronavirus.

Matt Daly, of Surf City, North Carolina, said he drove to Miami and was supposed to leave Wednesday on the Norwegian Getaway for a five-day cruise. It was canceled late Tuesday, but Daly and his wife were driving overnight and did not see the notification until they arrived at the port Wednesday.

“I’m never leaving North Carolina,” Daly said. “Too much of a hassle.”

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Follow AP’s coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.