( CNN ) -- A cruise ship returned to Charleston , South Carolina , on Friday after more than 400 passengers got sick during a trip to the Caribbean . The Celebrity Cruises ' ship Mercury ended a voyage marked by an outbreak of a gastrointestinal illness that sickened 435 of 1,838 passengers , said Cynthia Martinez , a company spokeswoman . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta , Georgia , said the outbreak was the result of norovirus , which can spread from contact with contaminated food or drink , by touching objects infected by people who are already sick , or through close contact with people who are infected , the agency says . Norovirus is a common cause of viral gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships , the CDC says . So far this year , three such outbreaks have occurred on cruise ships that docked at U.S. ports , according to the CDC . And in 2009 , norovirus was the cause of two outbreaks on the Mercury , the CDC reported . The outbreaks reported and investigated by the CDC infected at least 3 percent of the people aboard cruise ships carrying at least 100 passengers on cruises lasting between three days and three weeks . The Mercury left Charleston last week for the eastern Caribbean . In addition to sick passengers , at least 32 crew members became ill , Celebrity Cruises has said . Symptoms included upset stomach , vomiting and diarrhea , the cruise company said this week . The sickened passengers and crew responded well to over-the-counter medicine , it said . A doctor and two nurses joined the cruise medical staff Monday to help deal with the outbreak when the ship stopped in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands , the cruise company said . Guests who were in isolation during the cruise received compensation in the form of a credit to their onboard account , Martinez said Friday .
Celebrity Cruises ' ship Mercury returns to Charleston , South Carolina . The cruise line is returning the vessel after a year of repairs and upgrades at its new home port in Charleston, Norovirus -- which can spread via contact with food , drink , objects -- is culprit , CDC says .