Passengers who have fallen ill on a cruise ship that has experienced at least three outbreaks of Norovirus this year may be compensated.
In the past 10 months, hundreds of passengers on the Voyager of the Seas have been affected by the highly contagious stomach bug.
Five passengers on a cruise that docked in Auckland on Wednesday morning were made to stay on the ship because they had been stricken with the virus.
About 135 passengers on an earlier cruise on the ship fell ill last week while travelling from Wellington to Sydney.
Adam Armstrong, commercial director of the ship's owner Royal Caribbean International, says passengers who fell ill may be compensated on a case-by-case basis.
He defended the ship's hygiene standards, saying he is confident that they remain high and meet international standards.
Mr Armstrong says Norovirus is a common problem on cruises and the doctor on Voyage of the Seas will continue to monitor the situation.
The megaliner will also visit Tauranga, Napier and Dunedin before returning to Sydney next week.
