Gastro bug cruise ship departs Sydney

A cruise ship on which many passengers and crew were hit with gastrointestinal illness has departed Sydney slightly late, delayed by foul weather.

A cruise liner on which more than 180 passengers were struck down with illness has departed Sydney.

The Explorer of the Seas arrived at around 6am on Wednesday with Royal Caribbean confirming 182 cases of a gastrointestinal illness among guests and crew of the 14-night trip.

The ship pulled out of Sydney about 90 minutes late on Wednesday evening, with delays caused by the vicious storms that thrashed parts of the city.