Several major cruise lines began cancelling calls at Mexican ports on April 28 due to fears related to the swine flu outbreak, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.
Carnival cancelled April 28 calls to Ensenada by the Carnival Elation and Cozumel by the Carnival Inspiration and Holiday. Still, the line noted there currently are no reported cases of swine flu on its ships or in the Mexican ports.
Carnival said it enforces the highest of standards for cleaning and sanitation on all of our ships to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The line said it has well-trained medical staff and expansive reporting capabilities onboard.
Working with U.S. public health officials in the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, Carnival said it has extensive practices and procedures that are effective in mitigating illness aboard its ships. “We do not anticipate that our guests’ cruise experience will be impacted by this type of illness,” Carnival said.
Holland America Line, in what it calls “an abundance of caution,” has cancelled calls to Mexican ports in April and early May.
Of the line’s 14 ships, five ships and five sailings are impacted. Four are the current sailings of the Ryndam, Statendam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam. The May 1 cruise of the Veendam will also be impacted.
The Holland America itinerary planning team is developing alternate itineraries, and the new ports of call will be announced as they are confirmed.
If the CDC travel advisory changes before the five sailings, the cruise line said it may consider reinstating the original itineraries if possible.
Separately, Holland America said it has “an established robust respiratory (influenza) surveillance and treatment protocol” that was developed in conjunction with CDC more than 10 years ago.
Holland America ships can test for Influenza A and B and maintain a supply of the recommended anti-viral medications for influenza.
The ships’ cleaning protocols also are effective against surface contamination for flu virus, the company said. The line said it will communicate with guests on the remaining cruises this spring regarding any special precautions that might be recommended.
The company recommends that guests contact the infirmary should they show any signs of influenza and practice the habits of washing hands, using sanitizer dispensers, covering mouths when coughing and not touching their mouth and eyes.
Princess Cruises cancelled two calls scheduled for April 28 to Puerto Vallarta by Sapphire Princess and Cabo San Lucas by Coral Princess.
The company also revised the itinerary for Sapphire Princess, replacing the Mexican ports with San Diego and Catalina.
Princess said it is enhancing screening practices for passengers and crew embarking on its ships.
The line also is adhering to CDC guidelines for reporting and treatment of persons with suspect swine flu, and will isolate and treat passengers and crew with symptoms.
Anti-viral medications are currently available on all Princess ships.
“We will continue our rigorous cleaning and sanitization of our ships to minimize the spread of any contagious disease,” Princess said. “Our ships are routinely cleaned with a disinfectant proven to be highly effective against the flu.
We are communicating to our passengers and crew that they should take extra care to practice healthy habits such as washing their hands often. We are asking passengers and crew to report to the medical center immediately if they exhibit any symptoms of flu.”
Norwegian Cruise Line cancelled the Norwegian Pearl’s two calls in Mexico on its current repositioning cruise. The stops were scheduled for April 29 and May 1. Apart from this sailing, NCL’s scheduled deployment does not include any other ports of call in Mexico until the end of September 2009.
NCL also said it has stringent protocols for cleaning and sanitation on all of its vessels to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
In addition, the company is taking proactive precautionary measures, including, but not limited to, fleetwide guest screening via a health questionnaire prior to embarkation and onboard education regarding swine flu symptoms and preventative actions.
NCL’s onboard medical centers are stocking an appropriate amount of the anti-viral medication used to treat the illness, “in the unlikely event the need for its use becomes necessary.”
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) said it is temporarily suspending its port calls in Mexico by Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises.
Royal Caribbean has four ships currently making regularly scheduled port call in Mexico — Enchantment of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas.
Two additional Royal Caribbean ships — Serenade of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas—were scheduled to make upcoming Mexican port calls as they repositioned.
Celebrity’s Infinity was scheduled to make upcoming Mexico port calls as it repositions. All but one of the affected ships will either make alternative port calls or spend additional time at sea.
The Mariner of the Seas will sail a fully revised itinerary, visiting Canada and the U.S. West Coast.
RCCL said the decision was made “in an abundance of caution and allows additional time to better understand the full impact of the swine flu.”
“Like our guests, we take all health matters seriously,” said Dr. Art Diskin, chief medical officer for RCCL. “Although authorities have not raised specific concerns regarding the ports we visit in Mexico, we want to err on the side of caution.
We’re taking proactive steps onboard our ships to help ensure the health and well-being of our guests and crew members, and this is just one more step in that process. We apologize for the disruption these changes will cause our guests, and we appreciate their understanding.”
The company is using its Influenza Prevention and Response Plans developed in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts.
RCCL will screen embarking guests and crew members regarding recent visits to or travel through Mexico, contact with people ill with the swine flu, and for recent flu-like symptoms. The ships are conducting enhanced sanitizing of all high-touch areas onboard and asking guests to wash hands and cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
If necessary, onboard medical staff can isolate and treat guests or crew members who display flu-like symptoms, using the supply of anti-viral medications kept onboard all ships.
Separately, British cruise line Fred Olsen, following the heightened travel advice from the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), cancelled a call at Acapulco May 6 and 7.
The visit was scheduled as part of the Balmoral’s world cruise. Instead, the ship will have an extended stay in San Diego until mid-day on May 3 and will then proceed to Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala on May 8 and Puntarenas, Costa Rica, on May 10.
“The health and safety of our passengers and staff onboard is of paramount importance, and we take very seriously the advice issued by the U.K. government with regard to issues such as this outbreak of swine flu,” said Matt Grimes, Olsen’s director of planning.
“The FCO is now advising against all but essential travel to Mexico, and so it would be irresponsible of us to put in danger any of the persons onboard Balmoral.”
For more information from the Centers for Disease Control, visit www.cdc.gov. Most cruises lines are posting updates on their websites. Visit www.carnival.com, www.celebrity.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.ncl.com, www.princess.com, www.royalcaribbean.com and www.fredolsencruises.com.
