I've had a few emails and calls asking me my thoughts and what are the current policies from certain cruise lines for Corona Virus outbreak and international travel. Below I've sourced this information from a USA Today article, dated a few days ago. I've streamlined the details and as always this is an ongoing issue and things can change with these cruise lines within days. So do not by any means consider this latest update.
I've had clients call me about a French River Cruise they are booked on for later this year, and I had another couple of women forgo a trip to Italy for this fall. Several clients asked me about if insurance would protect cancellation if deemed necessary.
Azamara Cruises has canceled all China and Hong Kong sailings through mid-February. Guests on canceled cruises will also receive full refunds.
The line also issued the following statement: "After consultation with CDC, WHO and other public health authorities, we are implementing several measures to protect guests and crew. These steps are intentionally conservative, and we apologize that they will inconvenience some of our guests. We have rigorous medical protocols in place to help passengers and crew members who feel unwell while sailing. Our protocols include professional medical treatment; quarantine of unwell individuals from the general ship population; and intensified ship cleaning, air filtration, and sanitization procedures."
Until further notice, all ships in the Azamara fleet will adopt these health screening protocols:
- Regardless of nationality, boarding will be denied to any individual who has traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days. These guests will receive full refunds.
- There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed guests who have been in contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days, as well as all holders of China or Hong Kong passports – regardless of when they were last in China or Hong Kong. Also subject to mandatory specialized health screenings will be guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.
- Any guest presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.
- These standards also apply to all employees, crew members and contractors of Azamara Cruises.
Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement that, although the risk is low, the line is "closely monitoring the evolving situation with respect to Coronavirus. Our medical experts are coordinating closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to implement enhanced screening, prevention and control measures for our ships, guests and crew.
Effective Friday, Jan. 31, all booked guests who have traveled to/from or through mainland China in the 14 days prior to their departure will not be allowed to sail, consistent with guidelines issued by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). We are contacting booked guests ahead of their departure and have also implemented enhanced procedures at all our homeports."
Celebrity Cruises has canceled all China and Hong Kong sailings through mid-February. Guests on canceled cruises will also receive full refunds.
The line also issued the following statement: "After consultation with CDC, WHO and other public health authorities, we are implementing several measures to protect guests and crew. These steps are intentionally conservative, and we apologize that they will inconvenience some of our guests... We have rigorous medical protocols in place to help passengers and crew members who feel unwell while sailing. Our protocols include professional medical treatment; quarantine of unwell individuals from the general ship population; and intensified ship cleaning, air filtration, and sanitization procedures. "
Until further notice, all ships in the Celebrity fleet will adopt these health screening protocols:
- Regardless of nationality, boarding will be denied to any individual who has traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days. These guests will receive full refunds.
- There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed guests who have been in contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days, as well as all holders of China or Hong Kong passports – regardless of when they were last in China or Hong Kong. Also subject to mandatory specialized health screenings will be guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.
- Any guest presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.
- These standards also apply to all employees, crew members and contractors of Celebrity Cruises.
Costa canceled its Jan. 25 and 31 sailings on Costa Serena; the Jan. 27 and 31 departures on Costa Atlantica; the Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 sailings on Costa Venezia and the Jan. 25 and 30 and Feb. 2 cruises on Costa neoRomantica. Passengers are eligible for full refunds, or they can choose alternative sailing dates before the end of 2020 with $50 onboard credit.
When Costa Venezia docked in Shenzhen, the ship was boarded by a medical team who checked all 4,973 passengers and 1,249 crew for coronavirus symptoms. Local media reported that four were found to have high temperatures and 148 who came from Wuhan or who had visited the city recently were isolated for further screening.
Not coronavirus: 6,000 cruise ship passengers given OK to disembark after passenger diagnosed with flu
Costa Smeralda, the line's newest and largest vessel, was held in Civitavecchia, the port for Rome, with suspected cases of coronavirus onboard. The passenger was later diagnosed with the common flu and the ship was cleared to sail.
Costa issued a statement: "As of today, no guests, visitors or crew members of any nationality who have traveled from, to or through mainland China in the last 14 days will be allowed to board Costa ships.
Measures that the company has already been adopting for the past few weeks include the introduction of a medical form for embarking passengers and pre-boarding health screening, with temperature checks for persons who, for any reason, appear or identify as symptomatic (respiratory or fever symptoms). Any reports or detection of symptoms of illness during pre-boarding screening can be managed by medical professionals to allow for informed decisions on a case-by-case basis whether a guest or crew member will be unable to board."
Cruise & Maritime Voyages will not be accepting any passengers or crew for embarkation who have traveled to mainland China within the past 30 days.
the line released the following statement: "The health and safety of passengers and crew is CMV’s highest priority and CMV has introduced and continues to review additional measures for the protection of passengers and crew.
"CMV will continue to review all port calls in light of the travel advisories of the World Health Organisation, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and U.S. State Department. Where there is advice against visiting certain ports those calls will be canceled and alternative arrangements will be made.
"Effective immediately, additional health screening procedures are being put in place in all ports of embarkation. Until further notice, CMV will not be accepting any passengers or crew for embarkation who have traveled to mainland China within the past 30 days.
"CMV will continue to monitor the situation and will review and extend precautionary measures as the outbreak develops."
Crystal Cruises has replaced calls on Hong Kong with calls on Taipei's port of Keelung on its Feb. 2, 7 and 15 sailings, as well as its March 1 and 31 sailings on Crystal Symphony.
The line posted the following statement on its website: "The health, security and safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority. In an abundance of caution, Crystal has instituted a variety of preventive measures as it relates to the new respiratory virus, called 2019-novel coronavirus.
"We have updated our pre-boarding public health questionnaire to include questions concerning the coronavirus. We will screen guests at the pier before they board for body temperatures of 100.4℉ or higher and/or showing signs of respiratory issues. If guests are determined unwell to travel, they will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, if they do not have insurance.
"We will deny boarding of any person who has traveled to Hubei Province or Wuhan, China in the 14 days prior to embarkation, [and] we have canceled non-essential day visits to the ships when they are in port.
"As with any trip, travelers should check with public health authorities to be informed regarding health matters at the destinations they will visit, and exercise appropriate precautions. Crystal will continue to monitor the situation, closely working with the Cruise Lines International Association, health professionals and regulators around the world and will make any further adjustments to protocols as necessary."
Cunard Line has canceled a call by QM2 to Hong Kong on February 18/19 and replaced it with Singapore.
A statement from the line read: "We are currently looking at the impact of travel restrictions due to Coronavirus and our imminent ports of call in China and Hong Kong for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth world voyages.
"We have made the decision to cancel Queen Mary 2 call to Hong Kong on February 18/19 and replace it with Singapore on the same dates.
"We will continue to monitor the situation for future Cunard calls to Shanghai and Hong Kong and amend itineraries as necessary.
"Any guests now joining or leaving Queen Mary 2 in Singapore will be contacted and will be supported with amending travel arrangements. Although the risk to our guests and crew is very low, we are closely monitoring the situation. Our medical experts are coordinating closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to implement control measures for our ships."
Genting's Dream Cruise Line canceled a turnaround call on Guangzhou for World Dream but will continue to operate from Hong Kong. Passengers have the option to cancel future cruises and receive full refunds.
"In view of the recent outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus, Dream Cruises has been working closely with the China authorities in implementing various precautionary measures, and as part of our continuous initiative, kindly be advised that Dream Cruises will be not be calling into Guangzhou (Nansha) on Jan. 31 and Feb. 6. However, please note the arrival, boarding and departure arrangements in Hong Kong on the same day will remain as scheduled.
"Guests originally scheduled to embark from Guangzhou (Nansha) on Jan. 31 and Feb. 6 will have the option to change their cruise date or cancel their cruise with a full refund (paid cruise fare, port charges and Dream Cruises shore excursion). Please contact the original booking source for the necessary arrangements and on behalf of Dream Cruises, we apologize for any inconvenience caused and we thank you in advance for your kind understanding and support in light of these unforeseen circumstances."
"Guests with independent travel arrangements should rebook their air to depart from Tokyo's Haneda Airport or Narita Airport no earlier than 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15," the line said in a statement.
"Guests with Holland America Line post-cruise hotel arrangements in Shanghai will be refunded to the original form of payment."
Further, all Westerdam sailings in Asia between Feb. 15 and March 28 will begin and end in Yokohama (Tokyo) instead of Hong Kong or Shanghai.
"Itinerary revisions with Japanese ports for these cruises have been planned and are being communicated to guests and their travel advisors," the line said. "Cruises after March 28 were planned without ports in China and will sail as scheduled.
"For the changed voyages, embarking guests with independent travel arrangements should arrive to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport or Narita Airport by 6:00 p.m. for the Feb. 29 sailing and by noon for the March 14 sailing. All disembarking guests with independent travel arrangements should depart no earlier than 12:30 p.m. on their disembarkation day.
"Most airlines and hotels are allowing guests to change travel plans involving China with no penalty, but should you incur expenses related to adjusting your travel plans, we recommend you retain your receipts to support a claim with your travel insurance.
"All guests and their travel advisors are being notified of these changes. Guests who have purchased their air through Holland America Line's Flight Ease will have their return flights rebooked to depart from Tokyo, rather than Shanghai, at [the line's] expense. Guests' new homeward travel arrangements will be communicated shortly.
"If any additional Westerdam sailings in Asia will be impacted, booked guests and their travel advisors will be notified as soon as it is known."
The skipped ports will be replaced by Langkawi, Penang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
“The decision to reposition the ship from Shanghai to Singapore has been taken in the best interests of the safety and wellbeing for our passengers and crew, as was the decision to cancel our next three scheduled sailings from China," said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises."
Grand Voyage passengers who booked their flight through MSC Cruises will have their air automatically rebooked to Singapore. The line is not offering any refunds or protection to cruisers who booked air independently.
Additionally, the line has implemented the following procedures for screening passengers and dealing with potential outbreaks:
- "Guests from all nationalities are required to fill out a pre-embarkation questionnaire to ensure no-one boards their ship who has traveled from mainland China or visited mainland China in the past 30 days. Anyone who has traveled from mainland China or visited mainland China in the past 30 days will be denied access to the ship;
- "Mandatory non-touch thermal scans conducted for all guests and crew prior to embarkation for every cruise operated by the company anywhere in the world, and persons with signs or symptoms of illness such as fever (≥38 C°/100.4 F°) or feverishness, chills, cough or difficulty breathing will be denied embarkation;
- "Elevated deep-sanitation on every ship in the line’s entire fleet;
- "Guests who may have fever symptoms will be isolated in their stateroom and the same measure applies for their close contacts, including guests staying in the same stateroom and family members, as well as any crew member who may have served these guests."
Norwegian has introduced "non-touch" temperature screenings. Cruisers who register a temperature of 100.4℉ or 38℃ or higher will not be allowed to board and will be directed to seek local medical treatment. In addition, passengers traveling from Wuhan or who have visited mainland China in the last 30 days will be denied boarding. (According to the line, "mainland China" does not include Hong Kong.)
"The safety, security and well-being of our guests and crew is our number one priority," the line said. "As such, due to the growing concern regarding coronavirus infections in China, we are implementing non-touch temperature screenings for all passengers embarking in Hong Kong. Our vessels are currently not calling to ports in mainland China."
Norwegian told USA TODAY that per its cancellation policy, only passengers who purchase trip protection packages covering cancellation for any reason can back out of travel plans and receive refund.
'If you cancel, you lose all your money': Norwegian won't issue $32,000 refund to family that canceled Asian cruise over coronavirus
Oceania has implemented coronavirus screening procedures, which will be in effect for 30 days.
"In addition to the already announced non-touch temperature screenings detailed below, we will be denying boarding to any guest who has visited mainland China in the last 30 days," the line said in a statement. "These guests will receive a refund for their cruise.
"This new policy is in addition to non-touch temperature screenings for all guests. Any guest who registers a body temperature of 100.4℉ or 38℃ or higher, will not be allowed to board. These guests will not receive a refund and will be advised to open a travel insurance claim with their insurance provider.
"If you have traveled to mainland China in the past 30 days, please contact your travel advisor or Oceania Cruises directly so that we may begin the process of canceling your pending voyage, collecting your travel information and start the refund process.
"For guests traveling on our upcoming China sailings, we will be sharing further information in the coming few days.
"Please Note: The mainland China travel restrictions do not include Hong Kong or Taiwan."
On Tuesday, Diamond Princess's return to the port in Yokohama, Japan, was delayed. Its 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew members were quarantined for 24 hours after a guest from Hong Kong was diagnosed with coronavirus at a hospital onshore. The cruise line reported that the patient is in stable condition and that the family members who were traveling with him remain symptom-free.
Princess ship quarantined: 3,500 locked down aboard Diamond Princess after passenger tests positive for coronavirus
Princess Cruises has outlined the following measures:
- "Denial of boarding for guests who have traveled from or through mainland China (including Hubei Province) in the past 14-days. This does not apply to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
- "Pre-boarding medical evaluations, including temperature checks, for persons who, for any reason, appear or identify as symptomatic (respiratory or fever symptoms).
- "For all guests, standard pre-boarding health reporting advising of their reporting obligations for any illness or symptoms of an illness.
- "Medical screening for Coronavirus on all guests who visit our onboard Medical Center with symptoms of any respiratory illness.
- "Reporting to local and national health authorities of all cases of fever and respiratory illness, and any patients with suspected Coronavirus infection.
- "Crew members from mainland China will be delayed from joining any ship until further notice. Crew members from other regions of the world who may have been scheduled to connect on flights through China have been rerouted.
- "Additional environmental disinfection onboard will be performed in addition to our regular stringent cleaning and sanitation protocols.
Princess has altered three Sapphire Princess sailings by making the following changes:
- Voyage H013 will now arrive in Tokyo (Yokohama) instead of Shanghai on May 2.
- Voyage H014 will now depart from Tokyo (Yokohama) instead of Shanghai on May 2.
- Voyage H015 will now arrive in Tokyo (Yokohama) instead of Shanghai on June 3.
The line has also canceled the ship's June 3 and 11 voyages, which were scheduled to sail roundtrip from Shanghai, and is looking to remove the transit calls to Shanghai on May 1 and July 17 on Sun Princess, replacing with Japan ports of calls.
Regent's Seven Seas Voyager is scheduled to visit Hong Kong on Feb. 28. There have been no changes to itineraries, according to a spokesman.
“The safety, security and well-being of our guests and crew is our number one priority. As such, due to the growing concern regarding coronavirus infections in China, guests who have visited mainland China within 30 days of their voyage embarkation will not be allowed to board a Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship. Hong Kong is not considered part of mainland China and guests who have visited Hong Kong will be permitted to sail. Guests denied boarding because they traveled to mainland China within 30 days of their voyage embarking will be issued a refund when they provide proof of travel.
In addition, in Hong Kong the line has implemented non-touch temperature screenings for all passengers embarking from this destination and anyone who registers a body temperature of 100.4℉ or 38℃ or higher, will not be allowed to board.
Royal Caribbean has canceled all China and Hong Kong sailings through mid-February. Guests on canceled cruises will also receive full refunds.
The line also issued the following statement: "After consultation with CDC, WHO and other public health authorities, we are implementing several measures to protect guests and crew. These steps are intentionally conservative, and we apologize that they will inconvenience some of our guests... We have rigorous medical protocols in place to help passengers and crew members who feel unwell while sailing. Our protocols include professional medical treatment; quarantine of unwell individuals from the general ship population; and intensified ship cleaning, air filtration, and sanitization procedures. "
Until further notice, all ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet will adopt these health screening protocols:
- Regardless of nationality, boarding will be denied to any individual who has traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days. These guests will receive full refunds.
- There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed guests who have been in contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days, as well as all holders of China or Hong Kong passports – regardless of when they were last in China or Hong Kong.
- Also subject to mandatory specialized health screenings will be guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.
- Any guest presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.
- These standards also apply to all employees, crew members and contractors of Royal Caribbean.
In light of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Level 3 travel warning to China issued Jan. 27, Seabourn has canceled a scheduled Seabourn Ovation call on Xiamen, China, scheduled for Feb. 3. Instead, the sailing will include a visit to Sandakan, Malaysia, on Feb. 10.
Additionally, the line will no permit any cruisers who have traveled from or through mainland China in the past 14 days to board its ships, and crew members from mainland China will be delayed from joining any Seabourn ship until further notice. The bans do not apply to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Screening protocols that have been put in place include:
- Required pre-boarding medical evaluations – including temperature checks – for anyone whom, for any reason, appear or identify as symptomatic
- Medical screening for coronavirus for anyone who visits the Medical Center with symptoms of any respiratory illness
- Additional disinfection screening will be performed onboard in addition to the line's regular cleaning and sanitation protocols
Silversea has canceled all China and Hong Kong sailings through mid-February. Guests on canceled cruises will also receive full refunds.
Silver Spirit's current cruise, which departed Bangkok on Feb. 1, will end in Manila instead of Hong Kong, meaning the Feb. 15 cruise will now depart from Manila.
The line also issued the following statement: "After consultation with CDC, WHO and other public health authorities, we are implementing several measures to protect guests and crew. These steps are intentionally conservative, and we apologize that they will inconvenience some of our guests... We have rigorous medical protocols in place to help passengers and crew members who feel unwell while sailing. Our protocols include professional medical treatment; quarantine of unwell individuals from the general ship population; and intensified ship cleaning, air filtration, and sanitization procedures. "
Until further notice, all ships in the Silversea fleet will adopt these health screening protocols:
- Regardless of nationality, boarding will be denied to any individual who has traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days. These guests will receive full refunds.
- There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed guests who have been in contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days, as well as all holders of China or Hong Kong passports – regardless of when they were last in China or Hong Kong. Also subject to mandatory specialized health screenings will be guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.
- Any guest presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.
- These standards also apply to all employees, crew members and contractors of Silversea.
Asia-based Star Cruises has suspended the operation of SuperStar Gemini in Xiamen, China. All cruises since Jan. 27 have been canceled until further notice. Guests booked on SuperStar Gemini have the option to change their cruise date or cancel with a full refund.
For its other ships, Star Cruises has suspended the boarding of passengers living in Wuhan and Hubei Province as well as their close contacts. Passengers who do not wish to travel due to the coronavirus outbreak are offered an unconditional refund.
"We apologize for any inconvenience caused and we thank you in advance for your kind understanding and support in light of these unforeseen circumstances," the line said in a statement. "Star Cruises would like to reiterate that it maintains the highest preventative hygiene and sanitation standards onboard its fleet and is committed to safeguarding the health of all guests and crew."
Tauck's Yangtze River itineraries also begin in April and the line said it is taking a "wait-and-see" attitude before making any decisions and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Uniworld's China itineraries begin in April, and the line said it will continue to monitor developments.
Victoria Cruises, which operates three-, four- and seven-night itineraries on the Yangtze River, has canceled six sailings through Feb. 16, 2020. (The Yangtze season is typically late March to October. These were off-season winter sailings.)
"While operations have not been directly impacted by the situation in Wuhan – more than 500 miles away from the American-managed company’s Chongqing office – many passengers travel through transportation hubs which have been affected by proactive measures taken by the Chinese government, creating logistical difficulties," the line said in a statement.
"Additionally, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a notification to companies in the tour sector requesting a temporary suspension of operations. As a result, Victoria Cruise Lines will cancel sailings through February 16, 2020, affecting six off-season winter departures.
"Victoria Cruise Lines will monitor the situation in the interim and continue to prioritize the safety and enjoyment of its valued guests."
Viking River and Viking Ocean cruise lines are continuing to monitor the situation regarding future ocean and river cruises.
A spokesman said: "Viking does not have any river or ocean sailings scheduled to call in China until March 2020. We are monitoring the Wuhan coronavirus situation closely and will continue to do so in the coming weeks, heeding guidelines from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority; should we deem a sailing modification or other precaution is necessary, Viking Guest Services will communicate directly with any impacted guests and their travel agents about the change."
Other lines are also monitoring the situation. Cruise Critic and USA TODAY will update this story with any developments as they are announced.