Carnival Australia President Sture Myrmell has come out in strong defence of the cruise industry after Australian authorities announced restrictions on foreign-flag cruise ships, basically saying they are not welcomed.

Dear Crew, whether you are at home battling through daily tasks, trying to cope with our new reality or still on board, trying to keep sane and healthy, - we are here for you.

Crew Center keeps its hand on crew-news pulse and does an admirable job at helping/supporting whoever we can.

At yesterday’s meeting with Carnival Breeze Hotel Director, the Indonesian and Filipino crew members were informed that Carnival Cruise Line will use charter planes to send them home. The plan for the crew is to be taken by bus from Orlando to Miami Airport with Carnival representatives looking after them, and there will be a team to help to board these charter flights home. The first charter flights are scheduled for the next week on Monday and Tuesday. 

Dear Crew Worldwide,

How are you today? We really hope you are managing as well as it is possible in these uncharted waters. We know it’s scary to find ourselves in this new reality with suspended jobs, no certainty and plenty of challenges to come. So, let’s take a few moments and explore the state of our inner world, our inner selves.

One passenger tested positive for Coronavirus after returning home from a cruise on Carnival Imagination. CDC has informed Carnival Cruise Line about this individual and the company is taking additional precautions to protect its crew on board. In a letter distributed on March 18, Carnival Cruise Line informed the crew members about the passenger who tested positive as well as providing additional information about the current status on board Carnival Imagination.

Following the increased number of travel restrictions put in place around the world and the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 Carnival Cruise Line has decided to send all non-essential Carnival Spirit team members home. The disembarkation of the Carnival Spirit crew members will start on March 21, in Sydney the company said in a letter sent to the shipboard employees. All debarking team members will receive 30 days pay or through end of the crew contract, whichever comes first.

The US Coast Guard medically evacuated an ill man on Wednesday evening, from the cruise ship Carnival Magic. According to reports the man was suffering from a suspected heart attack and needed urgent medical attention on land. A passenger onboard Carnival Magic says that the man was a crew member working in the ship's main laundry.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world's largest cruise industry trade association including members such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line, today issued the latest update saying that its members have expanded restrictions on Coronavirus preventive measures. The statement says that CLIA members will deny boarding on their vessels of anyone who has traveled in the affected regions in northern Italy.

We are sad to report that a Carnival team member who was part of the Carnival Dream crew has passed away in Mexico. Leonardus Patra from Indonesia passed away on February 6, after he was transferred from Carnival Dream to a local hospital in Yucatan. According to reports the crew member had complained of a stomach pain a few days before he died. His family was notified about this extremely sad news and was told that Leonardus died from a stomach infection.

We are sad to report that a Carnival team member passed away onboard the cruise ship Carnival Ecstasy. Michael Bryan Agadier Abinsay, age 32, from San Narciso, Zambales, Philippines passed away ten days ago onboard Carnival Ecstasy. According to reports Michael went to his crew cabin to take a rest and never woke up. Unofficial sources say he died from a sudden cardiac arrest while sleeping in his bed.