Venezuelan Health Ministry official Nancy Perez Sierra said the situation is under control, adding passengers that might get in contact with people who presented swine flu-like symptoms are closely monitored.
Perez Sierra stressed three crew members tested positive for swine flu, while other 14 people presented swine flu symptoms. She also said the three presented the first swine flu symptoms on June 3, adding they will be held in quarantine until June 24.
The ship left the Margarita Island port on Sunday, June 14, and was heading for the Caribbean, Barbados, Aruba in an eight-day tour at the end of which the ship will return to Venezuela.
Perez Sierra said the Ocean Dream was originally carrying 1,237 people, of which 470 crew members, adding the passengers were of some 20 nationalities, with large numbers of Venezuelans, Colombians and Spaniards in particular.